Self-Defense Laws in Michigan

Michigan has a stand-your-ground statute. 'An individual who has not or is not engaged in the commission of a crime at the time he or she uses deadly force may use deadly force against another individual anywhere he or she has the legal right to be with no duty to retreat' if the individual honestly and reasonably believes that deadly force is necessary to prevent the imminent death of or imminent great bodily harm to himself or herself or another individual, or to prevent the imminent sexual assault of himself or herself or another individual.

In a civil or criminal case, a person who uses deadly force or other force under the Self-Defense Act is presumed to have an honest and reasonable belief that imminent death, sexual assault or great bodily harm will occur if the other person is in the process of breaking and entering a dwelling or business premises or committing home invasion (or has done so and is still present), or is unlawfully attempting to remove a person from a dwelling, business premises or occupied vehicle against that person's will, and the person using force honestly and reasonably believes that is occurring. The presumption does not apply if the other person has a legal right to be there (owner, lessee, titleholder) and no domestic-violence injunction or no-contact order applies to that person; if the person being removed is the user's child or grandchild or in the user's lawful custody; if the user is committing a crime or using the place to further one; against a peace officer lawfully entering in official duties; or against a current or former spouse, dating partner, co-parent or household member when the user has a prior history of domestic violence as the aggressor (MCL 780.951). Civil immunity: a person who uses deadly or non-deadly force in compliance with section 2 of the Self-Defense Act is 'immune from civil liability for damages' caused to the person against whom the force was used (MCL 600.2922b).