{"id":377004,"date":"2018-06-07T17:21:55","date_gmt":"2018-06-07T22:21:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/virginia-law\/virginia-second-degree-murder-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-06-17T14:08:01","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T19:08:01","slug":"virginia-second-degree-murder-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/virginia-law\/virginia-second-degree-murder-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Virginia Second Degree Murder Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Virginia Second Degree Murder Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/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

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

Second-degree murder in Virginia covers unlawful killings that do not fall under aggravated or first-degree murder. These can include killings from extreme recklessness or unintentional deaths resulting from the commission of a felony. It is punishable by 5 to 40 years in prison and fines up to $100,000.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Second-degree murder is just one form of homicide<\/a> in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The other types of criminal homicide include:<\/p>\r\n