Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Part I · Chapter 51 — Homicide
§ 1112. Manslaughter
Statutory text
Manslaughter is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice. It is of two kinds:
Voluntary—Upon a sudden quarrel or heat of passion.
Involuntary—In the commission of an unlawful act not amounting to a felony, or in the commission in an unlawful manner, or without due caution and circumspection, of a lawful act which might produce death.
Within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States,
Whoever is guilty of voluntary manslaughter, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 15 years, or both;
Whoever is guilty of involuntary manslaughter, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both.
Legislative history
Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.
Pub. L. 80–645 · 62 Stat. 683
Enacted · 18 U.S.C. § 1112
June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 756
Source evidence
Code source credit
June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 756Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
Pub. L. 103–322 § 330016(1)(H) · 108 Stat. 1796
Substituted · 18 U.S.C. § 1112(b)
Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(H), substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000” in last par
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(H), substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000” in last par.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(H) in sections 81, 210, 211, 215, 217, 242, 245, 291, 292, 439, 442, 480, 483, 484, 490, 491, 494, 495, 503, 507, 510, 594, 595, 596, 597, 598, 599, 604, 605, 641, 643, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, 661, 662, 665, 712, 751, 752, 756, 795, 796, 797, 836, 844, 871, 875, 876, 877, 879, 911, 912, 913, 924, 957, 959, 961, 1003, 1012, 1021, 1025, 1026, 1071, 1112, 1163, 1262, 1263, 1264, 1301, 1302, 1304, 1306, 1341, 1342, 1343, 1361, 1363, 1384, 1504, 1508, 1509, 1657, 1705, 1706, 1707, 1711, 1715, 1716, 1733, 1738, 1761, 1762, 2276, 2277, 2278, 2382, and 2389 by striking “not more than $1,000” each place it appears and inserting “under this title”;Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
Pub. L. 103–322 § 320102(3) · 108 Stat. 1796
Substituted · 18 U.S.C. § 1112(b)
Pub. L. 103–322, § 320102(3), substituted “six years” for “three years” in last par
Target inherited from the preceding amendment note.
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 103–322, § 320102(3), substituted “six years” for “three years” in last par.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(3) by striking “three” and inserting “six”.Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
Pub. L. 103–322 § 320102(2) · 108 Stat. 1796
Repealed · 18 U.S.C. § 1112(b)
Pub. L. 103–322, § 320102(2), which provided for amendment identical to Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(H), above, was repealed by Pub. L. 104–294, § 604(b)(13)
Target inherited from the preceding amendment note.
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 103–322, § 320102(2), which provided for amendment identical to Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(H), above, was repealed by Pub. L. 104–294, § 604(b)(13).Enacted provision · exact public law section
(2) by striking “not more than $1,000” and inserting “under this title” andViolent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
Pub. L. 103–322 § 320102(1)(B) · 108 Stat. 1796
Inserted · 18 U.S.C. § 1112(b)
Pub. L. 103–322, § 320102(1)(B), which directed the amendment of subsec. (b) by inserting “, or both” after “years”, was executed by inserting the material after “years” in second par., which was the first place the word appeared in text, to reflect the probable intent of Congress
Target inherited from the preceding amendment note.
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 103–322, § 320102(1)(B), which directed the amendment of subsec. (b) by inserting “, or both” after “years”, was executed by inserting the material after “years” in second par., which was the first place the word appeared in text, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(B) by inserting “, or both” after “years”;Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
Pub. L. 103–322 § 320102(1)(A) · 108 Stat. 1796
Inserted · 18 U.S.C. § 1112(b)
Pub. L. 103–322, § 320102(1)(A), inserted “fined under this title or” after “shall be” in second par
Target inherited from the preceding amendment note.
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 103–322, § 320102(1)(A), inserted “fined under this title or” after “shall be” in second par.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(A) by inserting “fined under this title or” after “shall be” in the first undesignated paragraph; andEconomic Espionage Act of 1996
Pub. L. 104–294 title VI § 604(b)(13) · 110 Stat. 3488
Repealed · 18 U.S.C. § 1112(b)
Pub. L. 104–294 repealed Pub. L. 103–322, § 320102(2). See 1994 Amendment note below
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–294 repealed Pub. L. 103–322, § 320102(2). See 1994 Amendment note below.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(13) Section 320102 of Public Law 103–322 is amended 18 USC 1112. by striking paragraph (2).Effective date note
Amendment by Pub. L. 104–294 effective Sept. 13, 1994, see section 604(d) of Pub. L. 104–294, set out as a note under section 13 of this title.Court Security Improvement Act of 2007
Pub. L. 110–177 title II § 207 · 121 Stat. 2534
Substituted · 18 U.S.C. § 1112(b)
Pub. L. 110–177 substituted “15 years” for “ten years” in last par
Substituted · 18 U.S.C. § 1112(b)
Pub. L. 110–177 substituted “8 years” for “six years” in last par
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–177 substituted “15 years” for “ten years” in second par. and “8 years” for “six years” in last par.Enacted provision · exact public law section
SEC. 207. GENERAL MODIFICATIONS OF FEDERAL MURDER CRIME AND RELATED CRIMES. Section 1112(b) of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking “ten years” and inserting “15 years”; and (2) by striking “six years” and inserting “8 years”.
8 of 9 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 1 partial
Notes
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 453, 454 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §§ 274, 275, 35 Stat. 1143).
Section consolidates punishment provisions of sections 453 and 454 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed.
The special maritime and territorial jurisdiction provision was added in view of definitive section 7 this title.
Minor changes were made in phraseology.
Editorial Notes
Amendments1994–2008 · 3 rounds
2008
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–177 substituted “15 years” for “ten years” in second par. and “8 years” for “six years” in last par.
1996
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–294 repealed Pub. L. 103–322, § 320102(2). See 1994 Amendment note below.
1994
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(H), substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000” in last par.
Pub. L. 103–322, § 320102(3), substituted “six years” for “three years” in last par.
Pub. L. 103–322, § 320102(2), which provided for amendment identical to Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(H), above, was repealed by Pub. L. 104–294, § 604(b)(13).
Pub. L. 103–322, § 320102(1)(B), which directed the amendment of subsec. (b) by inserting “, or both” after “years”, was executed by inserting the material after “years” in second par., which was the first place the word appeared in text, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Pub. L. 103–322, § 320102(1)(A), inserted “fined under this title or” after “shall be” in second par.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 104–294 effective , see section 604(d) of Pub. L. 104–294, set out as a note under section 13 of this title.
Credits
1948–2008 · 4 acts
- 1948June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 756
- 1994Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXII, § 320102, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), , 108 Stat. 2109, 2147
- 1996Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 604(b)(13), , 110 Stat. 3507
- 2008Pub. L. 110–177, title II, § 207, , 121 Stat. 2538.
Show as published
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 756; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXII, § 320102, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), , 108 Stat. 2109, 2147; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 604(b)(13), , 110 Stat. 3507; Pub. L. 110–177, title II, § 207, , 121 Stat. 2538.)