4 Things to Know About Manslaughter Crimes in Utah

According to the Utah criminal code, manslaughter is one of many types of criminal homicide. It may seem a little tricky to understand the difference between manslaughter and murder, but the general explanation is that murder is an intentional homicide, while manslaughter can be a homicide caused by recklessness (that wasn’t necessarily intentional). However, there are other factors that can determine the classification of a homicide. So here are four questions you might have about manslaughter crimes in Utah.

1. What defines manslaughter in Utah?

Before we define manslaughter, we need to define a few other words first. These definitions have been edited for clarity. For the full definitions see the Utah code website.  

Recklessly

This means a person is aware of a substantial risk associated with his or her actions but consciously disregards it.

Intentionally

This means a person willfully chooses to act in a way that creates an outcome he or she desires.

Knowingly (with knowledge)

This means a person is aware of the nature of his or her conduct and that they would reasonably assume a certain outcome resulting from that conduct.

Now that we know some basic definitions, below are the actions that constitute manslaughter according to the Utah criminal code.

  • recklessly causes the death of another
  • intentionally, and with knowledge that another individual intends to commit suicide or attempt to commit suicide, aids the other individual to commit suicide
  • commits a homicide which would be murder, but the offense is reduced
  • commits murder, but special mitigation is established (e.g.,mental illness or extreme emotional distress)

2. What are the punishments for manslaughter in Utah?

In Utah, manslaughter is classified as a second-degree felony. The punishment for a crime of that nature is imprisonment for a term of no more than 15 years and a fine of no more than $10,000.

In addition to the penalties associated with a second-degree felony, an individual who is convicted of manslaughter will also have his or her driver license revoked if their crime was a result of driving a motor vehicle.

3. What about involuntary manslaughter?

You may have heard the term involuntary manslaughter. Under Utah code, the crime of involuntary manslaughter does not exist. However, there is essentially an equivalent crime called negligent homicide. Generally, negligent homicide is a class A misdemeanor (carrying a punishment of imprisonment for up to a year and a fine up to $2,500)

The Utah criminal code refers to negligence in two different ways: negligence and criminal negligence. Again, these definitions have been edited for clarity. For the full definitions see the Utah code website.

Negligence

This means the failure to exercise a degree of care that a reasonable and prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances.

Criminal negligence

A person is criminally negligent when he or she ought to be aware of a substantial risk and fails to recognize it and avoid it. The risk must be of a nature and degree that the likelihood of injury to another person or property is more than substantial and that an ordinary person would not act in a way to allow it to happen.

Regardless of the type of negligence that led to a homicide, negligence behind the wheel of an automobile increases the severity of the crime.

  • Automobile homicide is a third-degree felony if a person is negligent.
  • Automobile homicide is a second-degree felony if a person is criminally negligent.

Utah code talks specifically about automobile homicide as caused by impairment, which includes distraction by a handheld wireless communication device or a blood alcohol level over the legal limit.

How do I find an experienced lawyer to defend my manslaughter case in Utah?

If you or a loved one has been charged with manslaughter or negligent homicide, the expert lawyers at Brown, Bradshaw & Moffat can help you determine the best course of action. Our defense team has handled manslaughter cases for decades, and we will fight to defend your rights.

Contact us at (801) 532-5297 for a free consultation if you have questions about manslaughter charges, or if you are ready to talk about the best way to defend your case.


More Articles

Different Types of Assault Charges in Utah
While Utah is fairly safe in terms of homicide, that doesn’t mean people don’t get hurt. In 2024, authorities dealt with over 18,000 assault cases, according to the state’s Bureau of Criminal Identification. If you’re accused of this crime, the ty
Read More →
9 Crimes that Could Land You on Utah’s White Collar Crime Registry
White-collar crime isn’t just insider trading and money laundering. There are a lot more crimes that qualify as white-collar crimes. This is especially important to know in Utah because Utah was the first state in the U.S. to create a public white-collar crime offender registry. It works like a sex-offender registry, where users can view who has been charged and convicted in the past ten (10) years of certain white-collar crimes. Below are 9 crimes that could land you in trouble with the law but also on the white-collar crime registry.
Read More →
law office in Utah
What You Need To Know About Sexual Assault In Utah
Trigger Warning Here is what you need to know about sexual assault in Utah. Before you read this, please be aware that it is a sensitive topic. If discussions about sexual assault are triggering for you, it might be a good idea to skip this post..
Read More →

Defend your case with the best criminal defense attorneys in Utah

Get a confidential case evaluation

Our office will contact you as soon as possible to arrange for you to discuss the facts of your case with an experienced criminal defense attorney in Salt Lake City, Utah.​ The use of this form for communication with our personnel does not establish an attorney-client relationship.