N.Y. Penal Law § 35.10: Justification; use of physical force generally

§ 35.10 Justification; use of physical force generally.

The use of physical force upon another person which would otherwise

constitute an offense is justifiable and not criminal under any of the

following circumstances:

1. A parent, guardian or other person entrusted with the care and

supervision of a person under the age of twenty-one or an incompetent

person, and a teacher or other person entrusted with the care and

supervision of a person under the age of twenty-one for a special

purpose, may use physical force, but not deadly physical force, upon

such person when and to the extent that he reasonably believes it

necessary to maintain discipline or to promote the welfare of such

person.

2. A warden or other authorized official of a jail, prison or

correctional institution may, in order to maintain order and discipline,

use such physical force as is authorized by the correction law.

3. A person responsible for the maintenance of order in a common

carrier of passengers, or a person acting under his direction, may use

physical force when and to the extent that he reasonably believes it

necessary to maintain order, but he may use deadly physical force only

when he reasonably believes it necessary to prevent death or serious

physical injury.

4. A person acting under a reasonable belief that another person is

about to commit suicide or to inflict serious physical injury upon

himself may use physical force upon such person to the extent that he

reasonably believes it necessary to thwart such result.

5. A duly licensed physician, or a person acting under a physician's

direction, may use physical force for the purpose of administering a

recognized form of treatment which he or she reasonably believes to be

adapted to promoting the physical or mental health of the patient if (a)

the treatment is administered with the consent of the patient or, if the

patient is under the age of eighteen years or an incompetent person,

with the consent of the parent, guardian or other person entrusted with

the patient's care and supervision, or (b) the treatment is administered

in an emergency when the physician reasonably believes that no one

competent to consent can be consulted and that a reasonable person,

wishing to safeguard the welfare of the patient, would consent.

6. A person may, pursuant to the ensuing provisions of this article,

use physical force upon another person in self-defense or defense of a

third person, or in defense of premises, or in order to prevent larceny

of or criminal mischief to property, or in order to effect an arrest or

prevent an escape from custody. Whenever a person is authorized by any

such provision to use deadly physical force in any given circumstance,

nothing contained in any other such provision may be deemed to negate or

qualify such authorization.