Provocation

Provocation (as a term of jurisprudence) refers to a possible defense by excuse; via which, a defendant may argue that they should not be held criminally liable for breaking the law, as they were provoked by an aggressor. While courts rarely agree that a successful demonstration of provocation should eliminate criminal charges, this may result in a mitigated sentence. This defense has been used with some success in cases dealing with domestic violence and barfights; note, this defense is even less successful when dealing with more serious issues, such as murder.

See also:

• abuse defense