{"id":373280,"date":"2016-09-13T10:51:49","date_gmt":"2016-09-13T15:51:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/indiana-law\/indiana-reckless-homicide-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-06-10T10:49:51","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T15:49:51","slug":"indiana-reckless-homicide-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/indiana-law\/indiana-reckless-homicide-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Indiana Reckless Homicide Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Indiana Reckless Homicide Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/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

Indiana\u2019s criminal laws contain levels of homicide from murder to reckless homicide. The nature of the crime depends upon the degree of intent or malice. Reckless homicide is similar to involuntary manslaughter. The crimes overlap in some ways, although involuntary manslaughter still has some degree of intent.<\/p>\r\n

All murder charges<\/a> are felonies. The potential penalties range from a year in prison to life imprisonment. The Indiana Supreme Court had suspended executions for the death penalty<\/a>. Governor Mike Braun resumed executions in 2024, although the state had exhausted its supply of lethal injection drugs in May of 2025.<\/p>\r\n

The lines between voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, and reckless homicide can be unclear. This article explains some of the legal differences between them.<\/p>\r\n

Indiana Reckless Homicide Overview<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

To examine reckless homicide, it’s important to understand the other crimes it compares to.<\/p>\r\n

Homicide<\/h3>\r\n

Homicide<\/b> means causing the death of another person. In some states, there are degrees of murder or manslaughter. Indiana has a single charge for murder and two types of manslaughter.<\/p>\r\n