Self-Defense Laws in Colorado

No duty to retreat, based on Colorado Supreme Court case law rather than a statute: the court has recognized a 'no duty to retreat' doctrine (People v. Toler, 9 P.3d 341, 348 (Colo. 2000)). The self-defense statute allows deadly physical force only if a person reasonably believes a lesser degree of force is inadequate and reasonably believes he or another person is in imminent danger of being killed or of receiving great bodily injury (or the other person is committing listed violent crimes such as burglary of an occupied dwelling or business, kidnapping, robbery, sexual assault or certain assaults); the justification is lost by a person who provokes the force or is the initial aggressor and does not withdraw, or who engages in combat by agreement.

"The general assembly hereby recognizes that the citizens of Colorado have a right to expect absolute safety within their own homes." Any occupant of a dwelling is justified in using any degree of physical force, including deadly physical force, against another person who has made an unlawful entry into the dwelling, when the occupant reasonably believes the intruder has committed a crime in the dwelling in addition to the uninvited entry, or is committing or intends to commit a crime against a person or property in addition to the uninvited entry, and reasonably believes the intruder might use any physical force, no matter how slight, against any occupant. An occupant who uses force under these conditions is immune from criminal prosecution and from any civil liability for injuries or death resulting from the force. 'Dwelling' does not include a place of habitation in a detention facility.