The Maryland Use of Force Handbook is a concise, easy-to-read guide, spanning less than seventy pages. It offers a quick yet comprehensive reference, filled with practical information that anyone can understand and apply.
This handbook clearly outlines the fine line between legally justified use of force and acts that could be classified as assault or murder. It starts by debunking common misconceptions about the criminal justice system, then guides readers through the charges most often faced by those who defend themselves. It further explains Maryland’s laws on self-defense, defense of others, defense of habitation, and defense of property. The handbook wraps up by preparing readers for what to expect after the lawful use of force, including police and court procedures.
The insights in The Maryland Use of Force Handbook are the same as those known to state attorneys and law enforcement—so shouldn’t you be informed too?
Excerpts
Excerpt 1 Introduction
Use of force cases hinge on the establishment of, or by negating, very specific facts, or pieces of evidence. By understanding what your lawyer is looking for, you will be able to give them the necessary information in a timely manner to help you win your case.
Excerpt 2
You can’t turn on your TV without a 24-hour news cycle telling you that violent offenders get set free all the time. It’s intentionally scary and they report that nonsense because the news makes money by keeping you, the viewer, hooked to their channel.
Excerpt 3
Under Maryland law, a defendant asserting Self-Defense must first show there is “some” evidence that all the previously stated factors exist and then the burden is on the state’s attorney to prove at least one of the factors is absent.¹