Читать книгу Criminology For Dummies - Steven Briggs - Страница 86

Instead of just using the word murder, some states refer to an intentional killing as first-degree murder. Those states use the term second-degree murder to describe a murder in which the killer didn’t intend the death but nonetheless exhibited behavior that demonstrated “extreme indifference to human life” or “wanton disregard” for the life of the victim. For example, a gang member who drove by the home of a rival gang member and fired a shot into the home that killed someone may be convicted of second-degree murder because he manifested extreme indifference to human life.

In the states that have laws ascribing degrees to the different types of murder, first-degree murder is the most serious and receives the most serious sentence. Generally, a person who commits first-degree murder receives 25 years to life in prison. Second-degree murder (also called manslaughter in some states) can net a prison sentence of 10 to 25 years.