Alaska Statutes

Alaska Stat. § 11.81.340 (2026)

Justification: Use of force in defense of a third person

✓ current as of July 2026

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Sec. 11.81.340. Justification: Use of force in defense of a third person.
A person is justified in using force upon another when and to the extent the person reasonably believes it is necessary to defend a third person when, under the circumstances as the person claiming defense of another reasonably believes them to be, the third person would be justified under AS 11.81.330 or 11.81.335 in using that degree of force for self-defense.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 9 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1985–2022 · leading case: Crawford v. State, 337 P.3d 4 (Alaska Ct. App. 2014).

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Crawford v. State, 337 P.3d 4 (Alaska Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 2× “The trial judge's refusal to instruct the jury on defense of others The trial judge refused Crawford's request to instruct the jury on the defense of "defense of others", see AS 11.81.340, and the judge likewise refused to allow Crawford to argue to the jury that he killed Brown…”

State v. Cook, 515 S.E.2d 127 (W. Va. 1999). · cites it 2× “1994); Alaska Stat. § 11.81.340 (198) (Michie Main Vol.”

Leu v. State, 251 P.3d 363 (Alaska Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 3× “Under AS 11.81.340, a person is justified in using force to defend a third person if he reasonably believes the third person would be justified in using that degree of force in self-defense.”

Jurco v. State, 825 P.2d 909 (Alaska Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 2× “335 (use of deadly force in self-defense); AS 11.81.340 (use of force in defense of a third person); AS 11.”

Marquinn Jones-Nelson v. State of Alaska, 512 P.3d 665 (Alaska 2022). “38 AS 11.81.340. 39 AS 11.81.350. 40 AS 11.81.”

Silvera v. State, 244 P.3d 1138 (Alaska Ct. App. 2010). “AS 11.81.340 provides: A person is justified in using force upon another when and to the extent the person reasonably believes it is necessary to defend a third person when, under the circumstances as the person claiming defense of another reasonably believes them to be, the…”

David v. State, 698 P.2d 1233 (Alaska Ct. App. 1985). · cites it 2× “This case presents the single issue of whether the defendant was entitled to an instruction on the use of force in defense of a third person (AS 11.81.340) at his trial for fourth-degree assault.”

Rossiter v. State, 404 P.3d 223 (Alaska Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 2× “335, and AS 11.81.340; David v. State, 698 P.2d 1233, 1235 (Alaska App.”

Crawford v. Lapinskas (D. Alaska 2021). · cites it 3× “The Court of Appeal considered and rejected this claim on direct appeal as follows: The trial judge refused Crawford’s request to instruct the jury on the defense of “defense of others”, see AS 11.81.340, and the judge likewise refused to allow Crawford to argue to the jury that…”

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