Murder in Virginia law

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Murder in Virginia constitutes the intentional killing, under circumstances defined by law, of people within or under the jurisdiction of the U.S. state of Virginia.

Contents

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that in the year 2020, the state had a murder rate slightly below the median for the entire country. [1]

Felony murder rule

In the state of Virginia, the common law felony murder rule is codified at Code of Virginia §§ 18.2-32, 18.2-33. [2] This rule provides that anyone who kills another human being during the perpetration or attempted perpetration of arson, rape, forcible sodomy, inanimate or animate object sexual penetration, robbery, burglary or abduction is guilty of first degree murder. [3]

Penalties

OffenseMandatory sentencing
Involuntary manslaughter Up to 10 years in prison
Voluntary manslaughter
Second-degree murder5 to 40 years in prison [4]
Felony murder
Murder of a pregnant woman 10 to 40 years in prison
First-degree murder Minimum of 20 years in prison, maximum of life-with-parole after 15 to 25 years
Capital murder Life imprisonment without the possibility of parole

See also

Related Research Articles

In the United States, the law for murder varies by jurisdiction. In many US jurisdictions there is a hierarchy of acts, known collectively as homicide, of which first-degree murder and felony murder are the most serious, followed by second-degree murder and, in a few states, third-degree murder, which in other states is divided into voluntary manslaughter, and involuntary manslaughter such as reckless homicide and negligent homicide, which are the least serious, and ending finally in justifiable homicide, which is not a crime. However, because there are at least 52 relevant jurisdictions, each with its own criminal code, this is a considerable simplification.

Murder in Alaska constitutes the intentional killing, under circumstances defined by law, of people within or under the jurisdiction of the U.S. state of Alaska.

Murder in Pennsylvania constitutes the intentional killing, under circumstances defined by law, of people within or under the jurisdiction of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.

Murder in Alabama constitutes the intentional killing, under circumstances defined by law, of people within or under the jurisdiction of the U.S. state of Alabama.

Murder in Arkansas constitutes the intentional killing, under circumstances defined by law, of people within or under the jurisdiction of the U.S. state of Arkansas.

Murder in Florida constitutes the intentional killing, under circumstances defined by law, of people within or under the jurisdiction of the U.S. state of Florida.

Murder in Michigan constitutes the intentional killing, under circumstances defined by law, of people within or under the jurisdiction of the U.S. state of Michigan.

Murder in Texas constitutes the intentional killing, under circumstances defined by law, of people within or under the jurisdiction of the U.S. state of Texas.

Murder in Vermont constitutes the intentional killing, under circumstances defined by law, of people within or under the jurisdiction of the U.S. state of Vermont.

Murder in Washington state law constitutes the intentional killing, under circumstances defined by law, of people within or under the jurisdiction of the U.S. state of Washington.

Murder in West Virginia constitutes the intentional killing, under circumstances defined by law, of people within or under the jurisdiction of the U.S. state of West Virginia.

Murder in Wisconsin constitutes the intentional killing, under circumstances defined by law, of people within or under the jurisdiction of the U.S. state of Wisconsin.

Murder in Wyoming constitutes the intentional killing, under circumstances defined by law, of people within or under the jurisdiction of the U.S. state of Wyoming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murder in California law</span>

The law on the crime of murder in the U.S. state of California is defined by sections 187 through 191 of the California Penal Code.

Murder in Delaware constitutes the unlawful killing, under circumstances defined by law, of people within or under the jurisdiction of the U.S. state of Delaware.

Murder in Connecticut constitutes the intentional killing, under circumstances defined by law, of people within or under the jurisdiction of the U.S. state of Connecticut.

Murder in Minnesota constitutes the killing, under circumstances defined by law, of people within or under the jurisdiction of the U.S. state of Minnesota.

Murder in New York constitutes the unlawful killing, under circumstances defined by law, of people within or under the jurisdiction of the U.S. state of New York. Because the criminal law of the state also governs the City of New York, there is not a separate law applicable to murders committed in the city.

References

  1. ↑ "National Center for Health Statistics: Homicide Mortality by State". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. February 16, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  2. ↑ "18.2-33. Felony homicide defined; punishment".
  3. ↑ "Code of Virginia § 18.2-32" . Retrieved March 6, 2012.
  4. ↑ "First and second degree murder defined; punishment" . Retrieved August 1, 2012.


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