The Illustrated Guide to Criminal Law
Chapter 14: Do or Die
Duress pg 20: Jim’s in a Jam
But believe it or not, Jim is probably going to jail.
Jim behind bars
JIM
You’re shitting me.
Some states have been starting to allow a defense of duress when the threat was against a stranger, but even there Jim might have a problem.
Basically, the more distant the relationship, the less likely the law will accept that a reasonable person would have been “unable to resist.”
Jim’s pissed. A Horde member explains.
JIM
That’s fucking stupid.
BIKER
Not really. American law doesn’t recognize a duty to protect strangers, and as this is all about competing duties (to the law and to others)…