Illinois does not have a formal “stand your ground” law. Unlike many states that explicitly state you have no duty to retreat before using force in self-defense, Illinois law is more nuanced and relies on a combination of statutes, court decisions, and the “castle doctrine”.
In public spaces, Illinois generally operates under a “duty to retreat” principle. This means that if you are threatened, you are expected to avoid using force if you can do so safely by retreating. The use of force in self-defense is only justified when there is no safe way to escape the situation. However, Illinois courts have also held that you do not have a duty to retreat before using force in public, unless you were the initial aggressor. This creates a situation where, while there is no explicit stand your ground statute, the law does not always require retreat in practice, especially if you are not the one who started the confrontation.
Inside your home, Illinois follows the “castle doctrine.” Under this doctrine, you have the right to use force, including deadly force, to defend yourself against an intruder if you reasonably believe that such force is necessary to prevent bodily harm or the commission of a violent felony. There is no duty to retreat in your own home, but your belief in the necessity of force must be reasonable, and the response must be proportionate to the threat.
To summarize, Illinois does not have a stand your ground law by statute, but the courts have interpreted self-defense laws to mean there is generally no duty to retreat in public unless you were the initial aggressor. In your home, the castle doctrine applies, allowing you to defend yourself without retreating if you are faced with an immediate threat.
Sources
[1] https://www.chicagocriminaldefenselawyer.net/chicago-criminal-lawyer/how-no-stand-your-ground-law-affects-self-defense-claims
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand-your-ground_law
[3] https://giffords.org/lawcenter/state-laws/stand-your-ground-in-illinois/
[4] https://www.blattilaw.com/blog/illinois-self-defense-laws-may-be-different-than-you-think
[5] https://www.findlaw.com/state/illinois-law/illinois-self-defense-laws.html
