Pennsylvania Voluntary Manslaughter Laws

Overview of Pennsylvania Voluntary Manslaughter Laws

Criminal homicide, the unlawful death of a human being, includes two types of manslaughter: voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter. In general, both types of manslaughter are lesser crimes than any of the murder charges available in Pennsylvania.

State law establishes either "heat of passion" or "unreasonable belief" as the basis for a voluntary manslaughter charge. A heat of passion homicide describes a killing that happens suddenly while a provocation affects the defendant's judgment and intentions. Pennsylvania law requires an objective review of the provocative circumstances and does not permit a subjective review — the act of provocation must be one that would cause a passionate or emotional reaction in any reasonable person.

Pennsylvania law disqualifies a defendant from a voluntary manslaughter charge if the defendant had enough time to cool off or calm down between the act of provocation and the homicide. The state must review the complete series of events leading up to the killing. If enough time passed between the provocation and the killing, a prosecutor may be able to meet the legal requirements to charge the defendant with murder.

In addition, state law allows voluntary manslaughter as a criminal charge if the defendant committed a homicide based on an unreasonable belief. Specifically, the defendant must have had a mistaken belief that she needed to use deadly force against the victim in order to protect herself or another person. However, if a prosecutor can show that the defendant created or escalated the unsafe situation, the state may be able to pursue a murder charge.

Learn more about Pennsylvania's voluntary manslaughter laws in the following table.

Penalties and Sentences

Pennsylvania law sets voluntary manslaughter as a first degree felony. If convicted, a defendant can face a sentence of imprisonment for up to 20 years.

The state also requires minimum sentencing for defendants who have two or more convictions for violent offenses. If the current conviction for voluntary manslaughter is the defendant's third violent offense, Pennsylvania law requires a minimum sentence of imprisonment for 25 years, with the option of increasing the sentence to life imprisonment without parole if necessary for public safety.

Note: State laws are constantly changing -- please contact a Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.

Pennsylvania Voluntary Manslaughter Law: Related Resources

• Pennsylvania Legal Research
• Pennsylvania Code
  
• Sentencing
• Homicide
• Voluntary Manslaughter Defenses

Get Professional Legal Help With Your Criminal Charges

Homicide cases, whether it's for murder or manslaughter, are always among the most serious in criminal law. If you are charged with voluntary manslaughter in Pennsylvania, a conviction could result in a prison sentence of up to 20 years. If you or a loved one is facing voluntary manslaughter charges, your best option is to work with an experienced Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney.