List of punishments for murder in the United States


, as defined in common law countries, is the unlawful killing of another human being with intent, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide. As the loss of a human being inflicts an enormous amount of grief for individuals close to the victim, as well as the fact that the commission of a murder permanently deprives the victim of their existence, most societies have considered it a very serious crime deserving of the harshest punishment available. Typically a convicted murder suspect is given a life sentence or even the death penalty for such an act. A person who commits murder is called a murderer, and the penalties, as outlined below, vary from state to state.
In 2012, the United States Supreme Court held in Miller v. Alabama that mandatory sentences of life without the possibility of parole are unconstitutional for juvenile offenders.

Federal

Civilian

Source:
OffenseMandatory sentencing
Second degree murderLife without parole or any other term
Second degree murder by an inmate, even escaped, serving a life sentenceLife Imprisonment without parole
First degree murderDeath penalty or life imprisonment without parole

Military

Source:
OffenseMandatory sentencing
Murder under UCMJ Article 118 Clause or Any legal punishment as directed by the court-martial
Murder under UCMJ Article 118 Clause or Death penalty or life imprisonment

District of Columbia

Source:
OffenseMandatory sentencing
Second degree murder20–40 years
Second degree murder with aggravating circumstanceBetween 20 years and life
First degree30–60 years
First degree murder with aggravating circumstanceBetween 30 years and life without parole
Murder of a law enforcement officerLife without parole

By states

Alabama

Source:
OffenseMandatory sentencing
Manslaughter2–20 years
Murder10–99 years or life with parole
Capital MurderDeath or Life without parole

Alaska

Source:
OffenseMandatory sentencing
Second Degree Murder5–99 years
First degree murder or Second Degree Murder of an unborn child75–99 years
First Degree Murder with aggravating factor99 years

Arizona

Source:
OffenseMandatory sentencing
Negligent Homicideimprisonment of up to 3.75 years for a first offense
Manslaughterimprisonment up to 12.5 years in prison for a first offense
Second Degree MurderNot less than 10 years nor more than 22 years
First Degree MurderDeath Penalty, Natural life imprisonment or 25 years to life

Arkansas

California

Source:
OffenseMandatory sentencing
Second Degree Murder15 years to life
Murder of a law enforcement officer25 years to life or life without parole
First Degree Murder25 years to life
First Degree Murder constituting a hate crime or of an operator or driverLife without parole or life with parole minimum of 30 to life
First Degree Murder with special circumstanceDeath penalty or life without parole

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Source:
OffenseMandatory sentencing
ManslaughterMaximum of 15 years in prison; maximum of 30 years in prison if a firearm is used
Aggravated Manslaughter of a childMaximum of 30 years in prison; maximum could be enhanced to life in prison if a firearm is used
Second Degree MurderMaximum of life in prison; Minimum of 25 years if a firearm is used, otherwise a minimum of 10 years under sentencing guidelines for a person with a clean record.
First Degree MurderLife without parole or death.

Georgia

First degree murder of a law enforcement carries the death penalty or life without parole or 30 years to life. If found with a mental illness, there is a minimum of 45 years to life and probation for life.

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Source:
OffenseMandatory sentencing
Manslaughter1–20 years
Felony Murder1–35 years
MurderLife without parole or no less than 25 years

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Source:
OffenseMandatory sentencing
Second Degree MurderLife or any number of years
First Degree MurderLife without parole. For juveniles, if mitigating factors exist the judge may set a minimum term of between 25 and 40 years before parole eligibility with a maximum term of at least 60 years.

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

Source:
OffenseMandatory sentencing
Negligent HomicideImprisonment for a term of not less than 7 1/2 years and not more than 17 years.
Causing or Aiding SuicideFor causing a suicide or suicide attempt, imprisonment for a term of up to seven years in prison. For aiding or assisting in a suicide or suicide attempt without causing the suicide or attempt, up to one year in jail.
ManslaughterImprisonment for a term of not more than 30 years.
Second Degree MurderLife with Parole or 30–40 years.
First Degree MurderLife without Parole.
Capital MurderLife without Parole

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Ohio differentiates between "Aggravated Murder" and "Murder." Aggravated Murder consists of purposely causing the death of another with prior calculation and design, or purposely causing the death of another under the age of 13, a law enforcement officer, or in the course of committing certain serious felony offenses. Murder consists of purposely causing the death of another, or causing the death of another as a proximate result of committing certain serious felony offenses.
OffenseMandatory sentencing
Involuntary Manslaughter3 to 11 years 9 months to 3 years
Voluntary Manslaughter3 to 11 years
Murder15 years to life
Murder 30 years to life and up to Life without Parole
Aggravated MurderLife without Parole, Life with Possibility of Parole after 20, 25, or 30 years
Aggravated Murder Death, Life without Parole, Life with Possibility of Parole after 25 or 30 years

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Source:
OffenseMandatory sentencing
Second Degree Murder if mitigating factors outweigh any aggravating factors10–20 years to life
Second Degree Murder12 years to life without parole
Second Degree Murder if aggravating factors outweigh any mitigating factorsBetween 20 years to life and life without parole
First Degree Murder if mitigating factors outweigh any aggravating factors15–34 years to life
First Degree Murder35 years to life
First Degree Murder if aggravating factors outweigh any mitigating factorsBetween 35 years to life and life without parole
Aggravated MurderLife without parole

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Source:
OffenseMandatory sentencing
Second Degree Murder10–40 years
First Degree MurderLife without parole or 15 years to life

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Source:
OffenseMandatory sentencing
Second Degree MurderLife with parole or not less than 20 years
First Degree MurderDeath, life without parole, or life