Murder in Arizona law

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

Contents

In Arizona, a person is charged with murder when the offender knowingly and intentionally causes the death of a person or unborn child. The murder must be premeditated. In the state of Arizona, if one is found guilty of first-degree murder, there is the possibility of receiving the death penalty. [1]

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that in the year 2020, the state had a murder rate near the median for the entire country. [2]

Felony murder rule

Arizona abolished all common law criminal concepts and replaced them with criminal statutes. [3] The felony murder rule survives in Arizona by current statutory law. The felony murder rule holds that a killing of a person occurring in the course of, or in the immediate flight from, the commission of the following crimes is considered murder in the first degree: [4]

A person convicted of murder in the first degree faces possible sentences of life imprisonment or, when aggravating factors exist, the death penalty. [5]

Penalties

Source: [6]

OffenseMandatory sentencing
Negligent homicide 1 to 8 years in prison
Manslaughter 3 to 12+12 in prison
Second-degree murder10 to 22 years in prison
First-degree murder

Notes

  1. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has set a moratorium on Arizona's death penalty.

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

Manslaughter is a crime in the United States. Definitions can vary among jurisdictions, but manslaughter is invariably the act of causing the death of another person in a manner less culpable than murder. Three types of unlawful killings constitute manslaughter. First, there is voluntary manslaughter which is an intentional homicide committed in "sudden heat of passion" as the result of adequate provocation. Second, there is the form of involuntary manslaughter which is an unintentional homicide that was committed in a criminally negligent manner. Finally, there is the form of involuntary manslaughter which is an unintentional homicide that occurred during the commission or attempted commission of an unlawful act which does not amount to a felony.

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

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

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

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

<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 law 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 is defined as the intentional killing, under circumstances defined by law, of people within or under the jurisdiction of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that in the year 2021, the state had a murder rate somewhat below the median for the entire country.

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

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

Murder in Minnesota law 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 law 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.

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

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.

References

  1. "13-1105 – First-degree murder; classification". Azleg.state.az.us. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  2. "National Center for Health Statistics: Homicide Mortality by State". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. February 16, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  3. A.R.S. 13-103.
  4. A.R.S. 13-1105.
  5. A.R.S. 13-751.
  6. "Arizona Vehicular Crimes - Phoenix AZ Criminal Lawyers - Gillespie Law Firm". Craiggillespie.com. Retrieved August 2, 2012.