New Hampshire Revised Statutes
N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 627:6 (2026)
Physical Force by Persons With Special Responsibilities
✓ current as of May 2026
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627:6 Physical Force by Persons With Special Responsibilities. –
I. A parent, guardian or other person responsible for the general care and welfare of a minor is justified in using force against such minor when and to the extent that he reasonably believes it necessary to prevent or punish such minor's misconduct.
II. (a) A teacher or person otherwise entrusted with the care or supervision of a minor for special purposes is justified on the premises in using necessary force against any such minor, when the minor creates a disturbance or refuses to leave the premises, or when it is necessary to prevent injury to self or others.
(b) In a child care program licensed or exempt from licensure under RSA 170-E, necessary force shall be limited to the minimum physical contact necessary to protect the child, other children present, the staff, or the general public from harm to the extent that such contact does not violate child care program licensing rules, adopted by the department under RSA 541-A, and RSA 170-E:4, II.
III. A person responsible for the general care and supervision of an incompetent person is justified in using force for the purpose of safeguarding his welfare, or, when such incompetent person is in an institution for his care and custody, for the maintenance of reasonable discipline in such institution.
IV. The justification extended in paragraphs I, II, and III does not apply to the malicious or reckless use of force that creates a risk of death, serious bodily injury, or substantial pain.
V. A person authorized by law to maintain decorum or safety in a vessel, aircraft, vehicle, train or other carrier, in a hospital or other health care facility, or in a place where others are assembled may use non-deadly force when and to the extent that he or she reasonably believes it necessary for such purposes, but the person may use deadly force only when he or she reasonably believes it necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury.
VI. A person acting under a reasonable belief that another person is about to commit suicide or to inflict serious bodily injury upon himself may use a degree of force on such person as he reasonably believes to be necessary to thwart such a result.
VII. A licensed physician, or a person acting under his or her direction, or an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) working for the department of corrections may use force for the purpose of administering a recognized form of treatment which he or she reasonably believes will tend to promote the physical or mental health of the patient, provided such treatment is administered:
(a) With consent of the patient or, if the patient is a minor or incompetent person, with the consent of the person entrusted with his care and supervision; or
(b) In an emergency when the physician or the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) reasonably believes that no one competent to consent can be consulted and that a reasonable person concerned for the welfare of the patient would consent.
VIII. An employee authorized by a hospital or other health care facility may use non-deadly force when and to the extent that he or she reasonably believes it necessary to maintain decorum or safety and may use deadly force only when he or she reasonably believes it necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury.
I. A parent, guardian or other person responsible for the general care and welfare of a minor is justified in using force against such minor when and to the extent that he reasonably believes it necessary to prevent or punish such minor's misconduct.
II. (a) A teacher or person otherwise entrusted with the care or supervision of a minor for special purposes is justified on the premises in using necessary force against any such minor, when the minor creates a disturbance or refuses to leave the premises, or when it is necessary to prevent injury to self or others.
(b) In a child care program licensed or exempt from licensure under RSA 170-E, necessary force shall be limited to the minimum physical contact necessary to protect the child, other children present, the staff, or the general public from harm to the extent that such contact does not violate child care program licensing rules, adopted by the department under RSA 541-A, and RSA 170-E:4, II.
III. A person responsible for the general care and supervision of an incompetent person is justified in using force for the purpose of safeguarding his welfare, or, when such incompetent person is in an institution for his care and custody, for the maintenance of reasonable discipline in such institution.
IV. The justification extended in paragraphs I, II, and III does not apply to the malicious or reckless use of force that creates a risk of death, serious bodily injury, or substantial pain.
V. A person authorized by law to maintain decorum or safety in a vessel, aircraft, vehicle, train or other carrier, in a hospital or other health care facility, or in a place where others are assembled may use non-deadly force when and to the extent that he or she reasonably believes it necessary for such purposes, but the person may use deadly force only when he or she reasonably believes it necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury.
VI. A person acting under a reasonable belief that another person is about to commit suicide or to inflict serious bodily injury upon himself may use a degree of force on such person as he reasonably believes to be necessary to thwart such a result.
VII. A licensed physician, or a person acting under his or her direction, or an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) working for the department of corrections may use force for the purpose of administering a recognized form of treatment which he or she reasonably believes will tend to promote the physical or mental health of the patient, provided such treatment is administered:
(a) With consent of the patient or, if the patient is a minor or incompetent person, with the consent of the person entrusted with his care and supervision; or
(b) In an emergency when the physician or the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) reasonably believes that no one competent to consent can be consulted and that a reasonable person concerned for the welfare of the patient would consent.
VIII. An employee authorized by a hospital or other health care facility may use non-deadly force when and to the extent that he or she reasonably believes it necessary to maintain decorum or safety and may use deadly force only when he or she reasonably believes it necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury.
Source. 1971, 518:1. 2000, 225:1. 2002, 112:1. 2009, 54:4, 5, eff. July 21, 2009. 2016, 118:1, 2, eff. July 19, 2016. 2022, 2:2, eff. Mar. 27, 2022. 2023, 146:2, eff. Aug. 29, 2023.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 17
cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1984–2025 · leading case: Carlisle v. Frisbie Mem'l Hosp., 888 A.2d 405 (N.H. 2005).
Carlisle v. Frisbie Mem'l Hosp., 888 A.2d 405 (N.H. 2005). “Jackson primarily relies on RSA 627:6, VI, which states: “A person acting under a reasonable belief that another person is about to commit suicide or to inflict serious bodily injury upon himself may use a degree of force on such person as he reasonably believes to be necessary…”
State v. Brooks, 2025 N.H. 12 (N.H. 2025). “See RSA 627:6, II(a) (2016) (amended 2022). He also asserts that the trial court erred when it admitted certain testimony and excluded other testimony, erroneously defined a term in its self- defense jury instruction, and failed to disclose portions of the complainant’s school…”
In re Doe, 564 A.2d 433 (N.H. 1989). “Finally, the petitioner asserts that the legislature, by statute, has permitted parents to use reasonable force to control their children without incurring criminal liability, RSA 627:6, and DCYS’s interpretation of child abuse conflicts with that statute.”
Commonwealth v. Dorvil, 32 N.E.3d 861 (Mass. 2015). “061 (exempting force “designed to cause or believed to create a substantial risk of causing death, serious physical injury, disfigurement, extreme pain or extreme emotional distress”); N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 627:6 (excluding “the malicious or reckless use of force that creates a…”
Planned Parenthood of N. New England v. Heed, 296 F. Supp. 2d 59 (D.N.H. 2003). “The Attorney General cites RSA 153~A:18, which exempts a health care provider from civil liability for failure to obtain consent for emergency medical care, and RSA 627:6,VII(b), which allows certain Department of Corrections medical care providers to use force to provide…”
In re Caulk, 480 A.2d 93 (N.H. 1984). “RSA 630:4; see also RSA 627:6, VI. Additionally, the legislature has provided for involuntary commitment proceedings whenever an individual presents a potentially serious likelihood of danger to himself or herself.”
In re Ethan H., 609 A.2d 1222 (N.H. 1992). “See RSA 627:6, I; see also Petition of Doe, 132 N.”
State v. Leaf, 623 A.2d 1329 (N.H. 1993). “” The defendant raised a justification defense pursuant to RSA 627:6 (1986), which provides in relevant part: “I.”
In re Doe, 495 A.2d 1293 (N.H. 1985). “See RSA 627:6 (parent may use reasonable force to prevent or punish misconduct).”
Compassion in Dying v. Washington, 79 F.3d 790 (9th Cir. 1996). “016(5) (Vernon 1979); N.H.Rev.Stat. § 627:6(vi); N.J.Stat.Ann. § 2C:3-7(e) (West 1982); N.”
In re N.T. (N.H. 2022). “In the alternative, she contends that, even if her conduct constituted “abuse,” it was justified under RSA 627:6, I, which provides a justification defense allowing the use of force by a parent against a minor in certain circumstances.”
Seufert v. Seufert, 693 A.2d 86 (N.H. 1997). “1996) (Child Protection Act); hut see RSA 627:6, I (1996) (parent justified in using reasonable force for discipline), the present action was brought solely under the domestic violence statute.”
N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 627:6(vi): 1 case
Compassion in Dying v. Washington, 79 F.3d 790 (9th Cir. 1996). “016(5) (Vernon 1979); N.H.Rev.Stat. § 627:6(vi); N.J.Stat.Ann. § 2C:3-7(e) (West 1982); N.”
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