Homicide is the act of one person causing the death of another person. Not all homicides are murder—some are manslaughter due to mitigating circumstances—and some are lawful when justified by an affirmative defense such as self-defense or insanity.

Criminal homicide generally involves (1) intent to cause death or serious bodily injury, or (2) negligence that causes the death of another person. Criminal homicide committed with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury is generally charged as the criminal offense of murder (committed with intent and with premeditation or malice) or as voluntary manslaughter or second degree murder (committed with intent but without premeditation or malice).

And criminal homicide caused by negligence is generally charged as the criminal offense of involuntary manslaughter—for example, when a person is driving recklessly or speeding and hits another motor vehicle or pedestrian, causing the death of the other motorist or the pedestrian. A person driving a motor vehicle while intoxicated by drugs or alcohol who hits another motor vehicle or pedestrian, causing the death of the other motorist or the pedestrian, may be charged with involuntary manslaughter, or with a more specific offense like intoxication manslaughter or vehicular homicide—depending on applicable state laws.

Criminal homicide laws vary from state to state—including the names, degrees of severity, and punishments. These laws are generally found in a state’s statutes—often in the penal or criminal code.

In Utah, homicide is defined as the killing of one person by another and is categorized into different offenses based on the circumstances and the intent of the perpetrator. Murder, which is the most serious form of homicide, requires intent to cause death or serious bodily injury and can be charged as first-degree or second-degree murder. First-degree murder involves premeditation or special circumstances, while second-degree murder lacks premeditation. Manslaughter in Utah is a lesser homicide charge and can be voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary manslaughter occurs when a person intentionally causes death without lawful justification but does so in the heat of passion provoked by the victim. Involuntary manslaughter, on the other hand, typically involves unintentional killing resulting from recklessness or criminal negligence, such as in cases of fatal car accidents caused by reckless driving or driving under the influence. Utah law also recognizes defenses such as self-defense or insanity, which can justify the act or mitigate the charges. The specific statutes detailing homicide laws in Utah can be found in the Utah Criminal Code, and the penalties for these offenses vary widely, from lesser penalties for manslaughter to life imprisonment or even the death penalty for the most serious murder charges.