N.Y. Penal Law § 35.20: Justification; use of physical force in defense of premises and in defense of a person in the course of burglary

§ 35.20 Justification; use of physical force in defense of premises and

in defense of a person in the course of burglary.

1. Any person may use physical force upon another person when he or

she reasonably believes such to be necessary to prevent or terminate

what he or she reasonably believes to be the commission or attempted

commission by such other person of a crime involving damage to premises.

Such person may use any degree of physical force, other than deadly

physical force, which he or she reasonably believes to be necessary for

such purpose, and may use deadly physical force if he or she reasonably

believes such to be necessary to prevent or terminate the commission or

attempted commission of arson.

2. A person in possession or control of any premises, or a person

licensed or privileged to be thereon or therein, may use physical force

upon another person when he or she reasonably believes such to be

necessary to prevent or terminate what he or she reasonably believes to

be the commission or attempted commission by such other person of a

criminal trespass upon such premises. Such person may use any degree of

physical force, other than deadly physical force, which he or she

reasonably believes to be necessary for such purpose, and may use deadly

physical force in order to prevent or terminate the commission or

attempted commission of arson, as prescribed in subdivision one, or in

the course of a burglary or attempted burglary, as prescribed in

subdivision three.

3. A person in possession or control of, or licensed or privileged to

be in, a dwelling or an occupied building, who reasonably believes that

another person is committing or attempting to commit a burglary of such

dwelling or building, may use deadly physical force upon such other

person when he or she reasonably believes such to be necessary to

prevent or terminate the commission or attempted commission of such

burglary.

4. As used in this section, the following terms have the following

meanings:

(a) The terms "premises," "building" and "dwelling" have the meanings

prescribed in section 140.00;

(b) Persons "licensed or privileged" to be in buildings or upon other

premises include, but are not limited to:

(i) police officers or peace officers acting in the performance of

their duties; and

(ii) security personnel or employees of nuclear powered electric

generating facilities located within the state who are employed as part

of any security plan approved by the federal operating license agencies

acting in the performance of their duties at such generating facilities.

For purposes of this subparagraph, the term "nuclear powered electric

generating facility" shall mean a facility that generates electricity

using nuclear power for sale, directly or indirectly, to the public,

including the land upon which the facility is located and the safety and

security zones as defined under federal regulations.