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Murder Vs Second Degree Murder Essay

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Murder is the most severe crime that anyone can commit. In the United States, murder is split into three categories or can be also known as degrees. Depending on things like the offender's intent as well as the circumstances surrounding the crime, these different degrees of murder have different legal punishments and consequences. All in all, there are many differences between first, second, and third degree murder and the consequences that come with them.

First-degree murder is probably the most severe type of murder. It requires the offender to have intentionally wanted to kill the other person or people. First degree murder also means that the killer premeditatedly killed the victim. Premeditation means that the offender planned the murder in advance and most likely thought about the murder for days, weeks, or even months. First-degree murder additionally requires that the offender had a specific intention to kill the victim. Most courts address the “pre” part of premeditation when trying to find a punishment for the killer. Generally, the court looks for evidence or clues that the killer left behind that may show that he had the intent to kill the victim prior to the killing. According to FindLaw, …show more content…

Second-degree murder does not require premeditation like first degree murder does. The offender would have had to act impulsively or just in the heat of the moment. As reported by Cornell Law School, "Second-degree murder is ordinarily defined as an intentional killing that is not premeditated or planned, nor committed in a reasonable 'heat of passion’ or a killing caused by dangerous conduct and the offender's obvious lack of concern for human life." (Cornell Law school Legal Information Institute) The consequences of second-degree murder also vary by the state someone lives in but normally includes a sentence of many years to life in

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