{"id":373357,"date":"2016-04-11T01:22:32","date_gmt":"2016-04-11T06:22:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/iowa-law\/iowa-first-degree-murder.html"},"modified":"2016-06-20T19:49:10","modified_gmt":"2016-06-21T00:49:10","slug":"iowa-first-degree-murder","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/iowa-law\/iowa-first-degree-murder.html","title":{"rendered":"Iowa First-Degree Murder"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Iowa First-Degree Murder<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\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

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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

Homicide refers to a situation in which one person causes the death of another. Each state divides homicide<\/a> into its own categories, but typically it’s divided into murder and manslaughter. Regardless of how each state divides these crimes, murder is always a more serious crime than manslaughter.<\/p>\n

Iowa defines murder as killing another person with express or implied "malice aforethought," which is basically a conscious intent to death or great bodily injury to another. Iowa divides murder into first-degree or second-degree murder, depending on the circumstances. As with other states, first-degree murder is the most serious homicide crime in Iowa, with the harshest penalties.<\/p>\n

Iowa First-Degree Murder Statute<\/h2>\n

The following table outlines the basics of Iowa’s first-degree murder law.<\/p>\n\n
Code Sections<\/b><\/td>\nIowa Code Annotated \u00a7 707.2, Murder in the first degree<\/a>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>
What is Prohibited?<\/b><\/td>\n

A person commits first-degree murder if he or she kills another person under any of the following circumstances:<\/p>\n

Penalty<\/b><\/td>\nFirst-degree murder is a class A felony<\/a> punishable by life in prison. If a person was under the age of 18 when he or she committed the crime, the person can be eligible for parole after serving at least 25 years.<\/td>\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n

Iowa First-Degree Murder: Related Resources<\/h2>\n

You can visit FindLaw’s Criminal Law<\/a> section for more information and articles on this topic. If you or someone close to you is facing a murder charge or any other criminal charges, it’s in your best interest to consult with a criminal defense attorney<\/a> in your area.<\/p>\n

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