In 2015 there were approximately fifteen thousand six hundred and ninety-six murders in the United States alone, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Malice aforethought is a term that means premeditated or with malice. In the United States malice aforethought is defined as an intent to kill, intent to inflict grievous bodily harm short of death, reckless indifference to an unjustifiably high risk to human life, or an intent to commit a dangerous felony. In order to deal with different kinds of murder, and to bring the perpetrators to justice in a fair way there is a special set of laws called murder law. In most states, first-degree murder is classified as any intentional murder that is willful and premeditated, with malice aforethought. In California and Pensylvania first degree murder encompasses all premeditated murder, unlike other states. In New York, Texas and Hawaii, a person can only be charged with first-degree murder if it involves multiple victims, a public safety official, a witness or judge in connection with a case, a murder for hire, or a murder by torture. In the case of the murder for hire both the …show more content…
Voluntary manslaughter is defined as any intentional killing that involves no prior intent to kill and was committed under trying circumstances that would make any reasonable person become mentally or emotionally disturbed. Involuntary manslaughter is different and defined as a murder that stems from lack of intention to cause death, however having an intentional or negligent act lead to the death. Voluntary manslaughter can be punished by a fine or up to fifteen years in prison. Involuntary manslaughter can only be punished by a fine or up to eight years in prison. Involuntary and voluntary manslaughter are the lowest charges you can receive for killing another human being in the United