Use of Force Reporting Requirements

HB 561 requires individuals who use force in self-defense or defense of others to report that use of force to law enforcement as soon as they are no longer in imminent danger. This reporting is a mandatory step for qualifying individuals to receive a pretrial justification hearing, where they can argue their use of force was lawful. The bill amends Utah's use-of-force statutes (76-2-309, 76-2-402, etc.) to establish this requirement, directly affecting people facing criminal charges related to force used in defense scenarios. Failure to report prevents access to the pretrial hearing process, though the bill does not change the substantive standards for justified force. The law applies to all individuals using force under Utah's self-defense or defense-of-property provisions.