united-states property texas self-defense trespass
Castle Doctrine as it applies to unruly Guests
<p>If you have a guest at your house in Texas, United States that has started acting in an unpredictable and threatening way that will not leave, does the castle doctrine apply in getting them to leave?  This particular situation pertains to my 15 year old son and a 24 year old guest that was yelling, cussing, and acting very unpredictable towards him. I'm sure he felt threatened, but I am not sure as to what extent.</p>

<p><strong>Does the castle doctrine apply in getting them to leave?</strong></p>
<p><strong>No</strong></p>
<p><strong>Short Answer</strong>: Reasonable force may be used to remove the guest as they have become a trespasser - killing them in the circumstances described would be unreasonable and excessive force.</p>
<p><strong>Long Answer</strong>: The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_doctrine#:%7E:text=A%20minority%20of%20states%20permit,possession%20of%20land%20or%20property." rel="nofollow noreferrer">Texas Castle Doctrine</a>, referred to as <em>Deadly Force In Defence Of Person</em> at <a href="https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.9.htm#9.32" rel="nofollow noreferrer">section 9.32 of the State Penal Code</a>, can only be used in response to another's use (or attempted use) of deadly force or to prevent certain violent crimes:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>(a) A person is justified in using deadly force against another:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>(1) if the actor would be justified in using force against the other under Section 9.31 [<em>Self Defence - see below</em>]; and</p>
</li>
<li><p>(2) when and to the degree the actor reasonably believes the deadly force is immediately necessary:</p>
</li>
<li>
<ul>
<li>(A) to protect the actor against the other's use or attempted use of unlawful deadly force; or</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<ul>
<li>(B) to prevent the other's imminent commission of aggravated kidnapping, murder, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, robbery, or aggravated robbery</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>[...]</p>
</blockquote>
<p><em>Deadly Force</em> is defined by <a href="https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.9.htm#:%7E:text=(3)%20%22Deadly%20force%22,death%20or%20serious%20bodily%20injury." rel="nofollow noreferrer">section 9.01(3)</a> to mean:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>... force that is intended or known by the actor to cause, or in the manner of its use or intended use is capable of causing, death or serious bodily injury.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Note that justification for the <em>Self Defence</em> provisions at <a href="https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.9.htm#9.11" rel="nofollow noreferrer">section 9.31</a> expressly exclude such things as mere &quot;<em>yelling and cussing</em>&quot; but (if the circumstances are such) &quot;<em>acting very unpredictable</em>&quot; may be applicable if it meets the criterion for attempted unlawful force:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>(a) <strong>Except as provided in Subsection (b)</strong>, a person is justified in using force against another when and to the degree the actor reasonably believes the force is immediately necessary to protect the actor against the other's use or attempted use of unlawful force.</p>
<p>[...]</p>
<p>(b) The use of force against another is not justified:</p>
<ul>
<li>(1) <strong>in response to verbal provocation alone</strong>;</li>
</ul>
<p>[...]</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>However</strong></p>
<p>As the guest &quot;<em>will not leave</em>&quot; it can be safely assumed that their conditions of entry in to the house have been withdrawn making them a trespasser which is covered by the <em>Protection Of One's Own Property</em> provisions at <a href="https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.9.htm#9.41" rel="nofollow noreferrer">section 9.41</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>(a) A person in lawful possession of land or tangible, movable property is justified in using force against another when and to the degree the actor reasonably believes the force is immediately necessary to prevent or terminate the other's trespass on the land or unlawful interference with the property.</p>
<p>[...]</p>
</blockquote>
<hr />
<p><sub>My links to the Penal Code may not go directly to the section described, so a word search using the section numbers may be required.</sub></p>
