At Peter Johnson Law, we want our clients and community to feel empowered when navigating the justice system. Explore the basics of criminal law below.
First-degree murder: Planned or especially serious murder.
Second-degree murder: Intentional but not planned, or extremely reckless killing.
Attempted murder: Trying to kill and taking a real step toward it.
Manslaughter: Killing without malice.
Voluntary manslaughter: Killing in the heat of passion.
Involuntary manslaughter: Accidental killing from recklessness.
Kidnapping: Taking someone by force without consent.
Assault: Trying to harm or making someone fear harm.
Battery: Unlawful physical contact.
Unlawful killing
Of another human being
With malice aforethought (intent to kill or extreme disregard for life)
Unlawful killing
Of another human being
Without malice (done in the heat of passion or through reckless behavior)
Unlawful application of force
To another person
That causes harmful or offensive contact
Attempted battery or
Putting another in reasonable fear of immediate bodily harm
Unlawful confinement
Of another person
Without consent
Unlawful taking or carrying away
Of another person
By force or fraud
From one place to another
A homicide is when one person causes the death of another person.
Killing refers to the taking of life from anything (person, animal, plant, etc.)
A homicide is any killing of a person.
A murder is the unlawful killing with intent (malice aforethought) or extreme recklessness.
A non-criminal homicide is a killing that is not a crime, like in a war.
A homicide allowed by law, usually in self-defense.
An excusable homicide is a homicide committed by accident without intent or serious wrongdoing.
Second-degree depraved heart murder is the murder of someone by extreme recklessness, without caring if the person dies.
Second-degree implied malice murder is a murder where there is no plan to kill the person, but knowing your actions could cause death and you ignore that risk.
Vehicular manslaughter is causing the death of someone while driving carelessly or illegally.
Manslaughter is the unlawful killing of another person without intent to kill.
The intent to kill, cause serious harm, or act with reckless disregard for human life.
