Can You Be Charged with a Crime of Self-Defense in Massachusetts?

Yes, you can be charged with a crime in Massachusetts even if you acted in self-defense. That surprises a lot of people, but it’s not uncommon.

Police often arrest first and let the courts sort it out. In a fight or confrontation, they may not know who started it, who escalated it, or whether force was necessary. If you admit to throwing a punch, pulling someone off you, or even using a weapon in defense, that can be enough to trigger a charge.

But being charged isn’t the same as being convicted.

Massachusetts law allows you to use reasonable force to defend yourself or someone else if:
- You reasonably believed you were in imminent danger of harm 
- You used no more force than necessary 
- You were not the initial aggressor (with some exceptions)

Self-defense is an affirmative defense, which means you admit to the act but argue it was justified. I’ve won cases by showing that the alleged “victim” was actually the aggressor, or that my client had no way to retreat and acted reasonably under the circumstances.

Self-defense cases turn on facts. Eyewitnesses, injuries, 911 calls, and surveillance footage can make or break them. If you're charged after defending yourself, the sooner we start building the case, the better.