Defensa personal y reembolso de costos legales en Washington

Explicación Simple

Si alguien te ataca, puedes defenderte y no te castigarán por eso. Si después te acusan de un crimen y demuestras que fue defensa propia, el estado te puede devolver el dinero que gastaste en tu defensa.

Es como si estuvieras en una pelea de fútbol, y un jugador del otro equipo te empuja. Tú te defiendes y el árbitro ve que fue en defensa propia, por lo que no te saca tarjeta y además, el equipo te cubre los gastos de la lesión.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan está en un parque y alguien intenta robarle su celular. Juan se defiende y logra ahuyentar al ladrón. Luego, lo arrestan por pelear, pero demuestra que actuó en defensa propia. El estado de Washington le devuelve el dinero que gastó en abogado y otros gastos.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

RCW 9A.16.110 - Defending against violent crime -- Reimbursement (1) No person in the state shall be placed in legal jeopardy of any kind whatsoever for protecting by any reasonable means necessary, himself or herself, his or her family, or his or her real or personal property, or for coming to the aid of another who is in imminent danger of or the victim of assault, robbery, kidnapping, arson, burglary, rape, murder, or any other violent crime as defined in RCW 9.94A.030.(2) When a person charged with a crime listed in subsection (1) of this section is found not guilty by reason of self-defense, the state of Washington shall reimburse the defendant for all reasonable costs, including loss of time, legal fees incurred, and other expenses involved in his or her defense. This reimbursement is not an independent cause of action. To award these reasonable costs the trier of fact must find that the defendant's claim of self-defense was sustained by a preponderance of the evidence. If the trier of fact makes a determination of self-defense, the judge shall determine the amount of the award.(3) Notwithstanding a finding that a defendant's actions were justified by self-defense, if the trier of fact also determines that the defendant was engaged in criminal conduct substantially related to the events giving rise to the charges filed against the defendant the judge may deny or reduce the amount of the award. In determining the amount of the award, the judge shall also consider the seriousness of the initial criminal conduct.Nothing in this section precludes the legislature from using the sundry claims process to grant an award where none was granted under this section or to grant a higher award than one granted under this section.(4) Whenever the issue of self-defense unde