Duress Defense is defined as what?

• A. An affirmative defense claiming the defendant was forced to commit the wrongful act by threat of immediate bodily harm or loss of life
• B. A claim of insanity
• C. A claim of self-defense
• D. An alibi

Answer: (A)

Duress is an affirmative defense where a person claims they were forced to commit a crime because someone threatened them with imminent bodily harm or death. The key idea is that the act wasn’t voluntary—the defendant acted under immediate coercion and had no reasonable opportunity to escape or seek help. This combination of an imminent threat and lack of alternatives excuses the criminal conduct under the law, in some cases (though not for all offenses, depending on the jurisdiction).

This concept fits best because the definition centers on being compelled by a threat of serious harm, which is different from insanity (a mental condition affecting responsibility), self-defense (protecting oneself from an attack rather than being forced to commit crime), or an alibi (proof of where you were rather than why you committed the act).