Any criminal offense involving the loss of human life is taken extremely seriously in Iowa. Manslaughter charges can result in life-changing penalties, both legally and personally. Understanding how this crime is defined and penalized is crucial if you have been accused. Read on and consult with a skilled Dallas County homicide lawyer today.

What is Manslaughter?

Manslaughter is the unlawful killing of another person without intention or malice aforethought. Both murder and manslaughter involve illegally taking a person’s life, but the main difference that separates these offenses is the offender’s intent. Someone who commits manslaughter does not plan out the killing ahead of time and may not even mean for the person to end up dead.

What Types of Manslaughter are Recognized in IA?

There are generally two types of manslaughter recognized under Iowa law: voluntary and involuntary. Iowa Code § 707.4 defines voluntary manslaughter as follows.

“A person commits voluntary manslaughter when that person causes the death of another person, under circumstances which would otherwise be murder, if the person causing the death acts solely as the result of sudden, violent, and irresistible passion resulting from serious provocation sufficient to excite such passion in a person and there is not an interval between the provocation and the killing in which a person of ordinary reason and temperament would regain control and suppress the impulse to kill.”

In other words, voluntary manslaughter occurs when the offender intentionally takes the victim’s life as a direct result of a provocation that causes a sudden and intense emotional state. The offender did not go into the situation planning to kill the victim, but they were overcome by circumstances that would cause a reasonable person to lose control.

Involuntary manslaughter is defined under Iowa Code § 707.5. This crime occurs when a person unintentionally causes the death of another during the commission of a public offense other than a forcible felony or escape, or when a person unintentionally causes the death of another while acting in a way likely to cause death or serious injury.

What Are the Penalties for Manslaughter in Iowa?

The penalties that you will incur for a manslaughter conviction vary depending on the specific circumstances of the situation, including which offense you are being charged with. For example, voluntary manslaughter is a class C felony, while involuntary manslaughter can be charged as either an aggravated misdemeanor or a class D felony.

The general sentencing guidelines for each degree of manslaughter are as follows.

Voluntary manslaughter:

  • Class C felony
    • Up to 10 years in prison
    • $1,370 to $13,660 in fines

Involuntary manslaughter

  • Aggravated misdemeanor
    • Up to 2 years in prison
    • $855 to $8,540 in fines
  • Class D felony
    • Up to 5 years in prison
    • $1,025 to $10,245 in fines

As you can see, the penalties associated with a conviction can be severe. Work with a skilled criminal defense attorney for experienced representation during your case.