involuntary manslaughter
Accidental fatal negligence
Involuntary manslaughter is the unintentional killing of another person through criminal negligence or during the commission of an unlawful act.
Unlike murder, it lacks intent to kill or cause serious harm.
A drunk driver who kills a pedestrian, or a person whose reckless handling of a firearm causes a death, may face involuntary manslaughter charges.
The charge recognizes culpability without premeditation.
Causing another's death
- unintentionalNot done on purpose
- culpableDeserving of blame
- unpremeditatedWithout advance planning
- accidental deathUnintentional fatal outcome
unlawful killing · indictment · prosecution · defendant · conviction · sentencing · mitigating circumstances · penal code
Severe breach of duty
- criminal negligenceCarelessness severe enough for prosecution
- reckless disregardConscious indifference to risk
- duty of careObligation to act reasonably
- breachBreaking of agreement
dereliction · failure · omission · standard of care · liability · culpability · reasonable person · endangerment
Impaired operating charge
- drunk drivingOperating vehicle while intoxicated
- reckless drivingUnsafe vehicle operation
- speedingExceeding posted velocity limits
- distracted drivingVehicle control while mentally elsewhere
hit and run · intoxication · impairment · automobile accident · traffic violation · license revocation
Intense temporary emotional disturbance
- provocationAct that triggers response
- misadventureUnfortunate incident or accident
- accidentUnintended harmful event
- unintended consequenceUnexpected outcome of action
homicide
Causing another's death
- unintentionalNot done on purpose
- culpableDeserving of blame
- unpremeditatedWithout advance planning
accidental death · unlawful killing · indictment · prosecution · defendant · conviction · sentencing · mitigating circumstances · penal code · wrongful death
gross negligence
Severe breach of duty
- criminal negligenceCarelessness severe enough for prosecution
- reckless disregardConscious indifference to risk
- duty of careObligation to act reasonably
breach · dereliction · failure · omission · standard of care · liability · culpability · reasonable person · endangerment · due diligence
DUI
Impaired operating charge
- drunk drivingOperating vehicle while intoxicated
- reckless drivingUnsafe vehicle operation
- speedingExceeding posted velocity limits
distracted driving · hit and run · intoxication · impairment · automobile accident · traffic violation · license revocation
heat of passion
Intense temporary emotional disturbance
- provocationAct that triggers response
- misadventureUnfortunate incident or accident
- accidentUnintended harmful event
unintended consequence · unlawful act · lack of intent · tragic accident
- homicide lawhomicide, murder charge, first-degree murder, second-degree murder, felony murder
- faultfault, gross negligence, culpa, criminal negligence, recklessness
involuntary manslaughterpremeditated murder
Deliberate, planned killing
first-degree murder · murder in the first degree · intentional killing · assassination · voluntary manslaughter
involuntary manslaughtercapital murder
Killing eligible for execution
aggravated murder · first-degree murder · justifiable homicide · acquittal · not guilty
involuntary, manslaughter, voluntary, voluntarily, involuntarily, volunteer, volunteering, volunteered, volitional