MT SB127

Prohibits placing any person in legal jeopardy for using reasonable means to protect themselves, family, or property, or for aiding someone who is a victim of or in imminent danger of assault, robbery, kidnapping, arson, burglary, sexual intercourse without consent, deliberate homicide, or any forcible felony

Entitles defendants to reimbursement of out-of-pocket costs, attorney fees, and trial costs when they successfully argue justifiable use of force as an affirmative defense and are not convicted of a forcible felony charge

Requires reimbursement to be paid from the prosecutor's office budget that was used to prosecute the charge that did not result in conviction

Defendants who are convicted on other charges where the justifiable use of force defense was not raised, not argued, or was unsuccessful remain responsible for their own legal costs on those charges

Codifies the new provisions into Montana Code Title 45, chapter 3, part 1 (criminal law justifiable use of force statutes)