Utah Special Function Officer (SFO) Practice Exam

Under what circumstances can compulsion be considered a legal defense?

1. When someone follows orders

2. If coerced by threat of imminent physical force

3. For personal safety reasons

4. When under severe mental distress

The correct answer is: If coerced by threat of imminent physical force

Compulsion, as a legal defense, is most appropriately applicable when an individual is coerced by a credible threat of imminent physical force. In this context, the law recognizes that a person's ability to make free choices may be significantly impaired when they are faced with the immediacy of danger. The threat must be specific, immediate, and must create a genuine fear of harm or death, thus negating the element of voluntary action. Understanding this scenario involves recognizing that an individual who acts under such pressing circumstances is not truly exercising their free will, as they are compelled to act in order to avoid the threatened harm. This defense is not universally accepted and often requires careful scrutiny in courts, but it is rooted in the principle that one cannot be held fully liable for actions taken under duress. In contrast, following orders may not imply any legal defense unless the orders themselves were the result of a legitimate threat, and personal safety reasons without immediate threats do not constitute legal compulsion. Similarly, severe mental distress does not automatically qualify for compulsion as a defense unless it is coupled with a credible and immediate threat. The focus remains on the immediacy and credibility of the threat of physical harm in establishing a legal argument for compulsion.