Illinois Compiled Statutes
720 ILCS 5/2-19 (2026)
"Reasonable belief"
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(720 ILCS 5/2-19)
(from Ch. 38, par. 2-19)
Sec. 2-19.
"Reasonable belief".
"Reasonable belief" or "reasonably believes" means that the person
concerned, acting as a reasonable man, believes that the described facts
exist.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 1983.)
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5
cases (2 in the last 5 years), 2015–2026 · leading case: People v. Harmon, 2015 IL App (1st) 122345, 49 N.E.3d 470.
People v. Harmon, 2015 IL App (1st) 122345, 49 N.E.3d 470. “" 720 ILCS 5/2-19 (West 2008). A defendant need not "exercise infallible judgment," only "reasonable judgment under the existing circumstances.”
People v. Harmon, 2015 IL App (1st) 122345. “" 720 ILCS 5/2-19 (West 2008). A defendant need not "exercise infallible judgment," only "reasonable judgment under the existing circumstances.”
People v. Harmon, 2015 IL App (1st) 122345. “" 720 ILCS 5/2-19 (West 2008). A defendant need not "exercise infallible judgment," only "reasonable judgment under the existing circumstances.”
People v. Hamilton, 2025 IL App (1st) 221305-U. “” 720 ILCS 5/2-19 (West 2016). ¶ 36 The elements of self-defense are (1) a threat of unlawful force; (2) the person threatened was not the initial aggressor; (3) the danger of harm was imminent; (4) the use of force was necessary to prevent the threat of unlawful force; (5) the…”
People v. Ramirez, 2026 IL App (1st) 240699-U. “Harmon, 2015 IL App (1st) 122345 , ¶ 55 (quoting 720 ILCS 5/2-19 (West 2008)). If the State negates any element of the defense, the defendant’s claim fails.”
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