Murder in Nevada law constitutes the unlawful killing, under circumstances defined by law, of people within or under the jurisdiction of the U.S. state of Nevada.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that in the year 2021, the state had a murder rate somewhat above the median for the entire country. [1]
First-degree murder is the most serious homicide offense in Nevada. It is defined as a murder committed under one of the following circumstances:
The penalties for first-degree murder are the death penalty, life without parole, 20 years to life, or at least 50 years in prison with parole after 20 years.
Under Nevada's felony murder rule, a death caused by the perpetration or attempted perpetration of one of the following felonies, regardless of intent to kill, is punished as first-degree murder:
Second-degree murder is the second most serious homicide offense in Nevada. It is defined as an intentional killing without premeditation, a killing where the perpetrator behaved so recklessly that death was a foreseeable result, or an unintentional death caused by the perpetrator supplying the victim illegal drugs. The penalties for second-degree murder are 10 years to life, or 25 years in prison with parole after 10 years. [2] [3] [4] [5]
The penalties for homicide offenses in Nevada are listed below. [2] [3]
| Offense | Mandatory sentence |
|---|---|
| Involuntary manslaughter | 1 to 4 years in prison |
| Voluntary manslaughter | 1 to 10 years in prison |
| Second-degree murder | 10 years to life, or at least 25 years in prison with parole after 10 years |
| First-degree murder | For adults:
For juveniles:
|