{"id":372120,"date":"2016-04-11T01:21:48","date_gmt":"2016-04-11T06:21:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/connecticut-law\/connecticut-murder-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-07-18T14:48:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T19:48:17","slug":"connecticut-murder-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/connecticut-law\/connecticut-murder-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Connecticut Murder Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Connecticut Murder Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Bridget Molitor, JD<\/a>\n | Last updated\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

Connecticut murder laws define murder as intentionally causing the death of another person, categorized into standard murder, felony murder, and murder with special circumstances. Standard murder carries a sentence of 25 to 60 years in prison, while felony murder and murder with special circumstances result in life imprisonment without parole. Defenses and mitigating factors include self-defense, insanity, or extreme emotional disturbance. <\/blockquote>\r\n

Every state has several types of criminal homicide<\/a>, including murder and manslaughter. Most states divide murder into first-degree and second-degree murder. Some states even recognize third-degree murder.<\/p>\r\n

Connecticut is unique in that it does not recognize first and second-degree murder<\/a>. Instead, the Connecticut criminal code categorizes murder based on the specific facts of the case. For example, if a defendant kills a police officer or a child, they will likely face the most serious charges. Someone who causes the death of another person in a car accident would most likely face lesser charges.<\/p>\r\n

Here, we\u2019ll explain how Connecticut\u2019s murder laws work, including the penalties and defenses to this crime. If you\u2019re facing murder charges<\/a>, you should consult a criminal defense attorney sooner rather than later. You should also visit the links in the \u201cRelated FindLaw Resources\u201d section at the end of this article.<\/p>\r\n

How Does Connecticut Law Define Murder?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

The Connecticut criminal statutes define murder as intentionally causing the death of another person. Specifically, the state recognizes three types of murder, including:<\/p>\r\n