An affirmative defense:

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An affirmative defense is a defense raised by the defendant in response to the charges brought against them. It is the defendant's responsibility to prove the truth of the defense. It is not a complete defense, meaning that even if successfully proven, it may not completely absolve the defendant of responsibility for the crime. The state does not need to disprove an affirmative defense beyond a reasonable doubt, but rather the burden of proof lies with the defense to demonstrate the validity of the defense. An affirmative defense is raised by the defense and puts forth new information or evidence that, if proven true, could mitigate or negate the defendant's guilt. It is the defense's responsibility to prove the affirmative defense to be true by a preponderance of the evidence, not beyond a reasonable doubt. An affirmative defense does not necessarily result in a complete defense, meaning the defendant may still be found guilty but for a lesser offense or with a reduced sentence. It is not the state's burden to disprove an affirmative defense, but rather the defense's burden to prove it.

An Affirmative Defense