Homicide is the illegal killing of a human. Identify and briefly summarize the three classifications of homicide.
Serial killer homicide
Discuss the impacts on the victim's family, identify the resources available to those families, and explain the role of the criminal justice system in providing assistance to those families.
Sample Solution
1. Voluntary Manslaughter: This is a form of homicide that is committed in the heat of passion, such as in response to grave provocation or an assault. It carries a lesser penalty than murder since it involves some level of diminished responsibility on the part of the accused.
2. Involuntary Manslaughter: This type of homicide is unintended and generally occurs as a result of negligence or recklessness (e.g., driving while intoxicated). It often carries fewer penalties than voluntary manslaughter because no malicious intent was present.
3. Murder: This is the most serious form of homicide, and it entails malice aforethought, meaning that there was premeditation and planning involved in the killing. It typically results in lengthy prison sentences for those convicted, and it can even be punishable by death depending on the jurisdiction's laws.