A person’s intent behind a killing can make the difference between life in prison and a shorter sentence. While first-degree murder carries a prison sentence of twenty years to life in prison, manslaughter normally will require the offender to spend less than 15 years in jail.
Below, we provide an overview of manslaughter and murder charges and how intent can determine the severity of your punishment. If you are facing charges, speak with our Chicago criminal defense lawyer directly.
First-Degree Murder
In Illinois, first-degree murder requires the prosecutor to prove one of the following three elements at trial: