Which statement about self-defense is correct?

Which statement about self-defense is correct?

• A. There is no burden on the defendant to raise self-defense.
• B. Self-defense can be used as a justification; the prosecution bears no burden.
• C. Self-defense is a common example of an affirmative defense.
• D. Self-defense results in automatic acquittal.

Answer: (C)

Self-defense is a justification asserted by the defendant in a criminal case, treated as an affirmative defense. Because it is affirmative, the defendant must raise it and present some evidence supporting it; it isn’t enough to rely on the prosecution’s burden alone. Once the defense is raised, the prosecution still bears the burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and to rebut the defense if necessary. This is why self-defense is described as a common example of an affirmative defense: it provides a justification for the conduct rather than denying a crime’s elements, and it shifts part of the trial dynamics to the defense to initiate the claim. It does not lead to automatic acquittal; if the defense is unproven or not credible, the defendant can still be convicted.

Self-defense is a justification asserted by the defendant in a criminal case, treated as an affirmative defense. Because it is affirmative, the defendant must raise it and present some evidence supporting it; it isn’t enough to rely on the prosecution’s burden alone. Once the defense is raised, the prosecution still bears the burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and to rebut the defense if necessary. This is why self-defense is described as a common example of an affirmative defense: it provides a justification for the conduct rather than denying a crime’s elements, and it shifts part of the trial dynamics to the defense to initiate the claim. It does not lead to automatic acquittal; if the defense is unproven or not credible, the defendant can still be convicted.