{"id":371445,"date":"2016-04-11T01:20:59","date_gmt":"2016-04-11T06:20:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/alaska-law\/alaska-manslaughter-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-11-18T15:11:18","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T20:11:18","slug":"alaska-manslaughter-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/alaska-law\/alaska-manslaughter-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Alaska Manslaughter Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Alaska Manslaughter Laws<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Manslaughter in Alaska<\/span> is a Class A<\/span> felony that occurs when someone intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes another person’s death under circumstances that don’t meet the state\u2019s legal definition of murder. A manslaughter conviction carries up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Most jurisdictions categorize criminal homicide as either murder or manslaughter. Murder cases involve a defendant who intentionally takes a human life<\/span> with premeditation and malice aforethought. Manslaughter, on the other hand, does not include either of these things.<\/p>\n

While Alaska<\/span> law<\/span> does divide homicide into murder<\/a> and manslaughter, it defines these crimes quite differently from other states. In Alaska<\/span>, a murder conviction does not require that the state prove premeditation or malice aforethought. Alaska<\/span> lawmakers abandoned the common law<\/a> definitions of murder and manslaughter years ago.<\/p>\n

This article explains how Alaska<\/span> criminal law<\/span> defines manslaughter, including the penalties and defenses to this crime. If you\u2019re facing manslaughter charges or any other criminal charge, contact an experienced Alaska<\/span> criminal defense attorney<\/span><\/a>. They can explain your options under state law and help protect your rights.<\/p>\n

How Does Alaska<\/span> Law<\/span> Define Murder and Manslaughter?<\/h2>\n

The Alaska<\/span> criminal code divides the crime of homicide<\/a> into multiple categories. It breaks down the crime of murder into murder in the first degree<\/span> and murder in the second degree<\/span>. The homicides that do not qualify as murder fall under either manslaughter or criminally negligent homicide<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Alaska<\/span> law<\/span> does not define murder and manslaughter the way most states do. There is no requirement for deliberation, premeditation, or malice aforethought. The state criminal code does not limit manslaughter to cases involving \u201cheat of passion<\/a>\u201d or provocation. Instead, the courts look at a defendant\u2019s culpable mental state<\/span> at the time of the killing.<\/p>\n

Alaska<\/span> law<\/span> recognizes the following types of homicide:<\/p>\n

Murder<\/h3>\n

In general, murder is the intentional killing of another human being. Like most states, Alaska<\/span> breaks down the crime of murder by degrees:<\/p>\n

First-degree murder<\/a> occurs in Alaska<\/span> when someone:<\/p>\n