Involuntary Manslaughter Under the Law
Involuntary manslaughter is defined as an unintentional killing that results either from recklessness or criminal negligence or from the commission of a low-level criminal act such as a misdemeanor. Involuntary manslaughter is distinguished from other forms of homicide because it does not require deliberation or premeditation, or even intent. Since these mental states are not required, involuntary manslaughter is the lowest category of homicide.
Recklessness and Criminal Negligence
The first type of involuntary manslaughter occurs when a defendant recklessly or negligently commits an act that results in the death of another person. Recklessness usually means that the defendant was aware of the risk that they were creating, while negligence usually means that the defendant was not aware of the risk but reasonably should have been aware of it. The level of negligence required for involuntary manslaughter is higher than normal civil negligence and requires that the defendant have acted in a very unreasonable manner. The exact language used to describe this negligence standard varies by state, but many refer to it as “criminal negligence” or “gross negligence.”
Criminal negligence can also involve a failure to perform an act that the defendant has a duty to perform. Where a parent has a duty to take care of and protect a child, but the child dies when she is left in the car on a hot day, the parent may be culpable for involuntary manslaughter. Another example would be a tour operator who fails to advise his passengers of the proper safety protocols, resulting in the death of a passenger. This tour operator has failed to perform his duty, resulting in criminal negligence.
Misdemeanor Manslaughter
The second form of involuntary manslaughter results from an unintentional killing that occurs during the commission of a misdemeanor or low-level felony that does not trigger the felony murder rule. The crimes that can trigger misdemeanor manslaughter will vary by state statute. Misdemeanors include those crimes that are less than a felony and that are typically punishable by a fine or less than one year in prison. In some states, a killing that occurs during any misdemeanor can lead to a misdemeanor manslaughter charge. In others, only a killing that occurs during more serious misdemeanors will result in manslaughter charges.
Additionally, it is important to check your state’s felony murder rule to determine what felonies are subject to the rule. A killing that occurs during a felony that is not encompassed within the felony murder rule may result in misdemeanor manslaughter charges instead.
Punishment and Defenses
As involuntary manslaughter may be charged in a wide range of circumstances, the punishment and defenses applied to involuntary manslaughter will vary widely by state. In federal court, an involuntary manslaughter charge can result in a sentence of imprisonment for one to six years, while many states provide for a range of sentences depending on the severity of the negligence or the underlying misdemeanor.
Because involuntary manslaughter does not require a showing of intent, a defendant cannot utilize the defense that he did not intend to commit the crime. A defendant can, however, argue that his actions did not rise to the level of negligence necessary to constitute criminal negligence. This may include arguing that the killing was truly an accident and did not result from the careless actions of the defendant.
In the case of misdemeanor manslaughter, any defense to the underlying misdemeanor is also a defense to the misdemeanor manslaughter charge. For example, if the defendant is charged with misdemeanor battery which results in death, but she successfully argues that the battery was self-defense, this would also be a defense to a misdemeanor manslaughter charge.
