Manslaughter is the crime of killing someone without premeditation, meaning that the killer did not have the intent to harm or kill someone. Manslaughter is still an umbrella term, and has varying degrees of severity and categories that define what kind of punishment will be sought after in the courts. Manslaughter is broken up into 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree.

The differences between the degrees of manslaughter are as follows:

• 1st Degree Manslaughter: This occurs when someone intends to injure someone severely, but instead of solely hurting them, the injuries cause death.

• 2nd Degree Manslaughter: This occurs when someone is acting recklessly and aware of their potentially fatal actions. Instead of stopping, they continue with their reckless acts, and this leads to another person’s death.

• 3rd Degree Manslaughter: This is a catch-all category that includes all other homicides. These crimes are characterized by recklessness or inattention. A crime of passion, in which an argument ends with one person dead, constitutes voluntary manslaughter. A killing in which the killer was being careless, as in vehicular homicide, constitutes involuntary homicide.

It is important to note that the severity of the crime and the punishment received vary depending on the state, the offender’s age, and circumstances.