{"id":372970,"date":"2016-04-11T01:22:15","date_gmt":"2016-04-11T06:22:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/idaho-law\/idaho-first-degree-murder.html"},"modified":"2025-06-30T15:26:54","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T20:26:54","slug":"idaho-first-degree-murder","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/idaho-law\/idaho-first-degree-murder.html","title":{"rendered":"Idaho First-Degree Murder"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Idaho First-Degree Murder<\/h1>\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Vaidehi Mehta, 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

Under Idaho law, homicide is the unlawful killing of another human being. Intentional homicide is murder, the most serious crime someone can commit in Idaho. Idaho\u2019s criminal code recognizes two degrees of murder, depending on the nature of the act.<\/p>\r\n

Both first- and second-degree murder receive punishments of up to life imprisonment. First-degree murder has specific requirements for what qualifies for the crime. The prosecutor must request the death penalty to get the maximum sentence.<\/p>\r\n

Idaho is one of 27 states with the death penalty for aggravated first-degree murder<\/a>. In 2026, Idaho is slated to make a firing squad as its primary method of execution.<\/p>\r\n

Idaho First-Degree Murder Laws<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Idaho codes define murder as the unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought<\/a>. Malice may be:<\/p>\r\n