What is the difference between voluntary and involuntary manslaughter?
Voluntary manslaughter occurs when an individual intentionally kills another person or is responsible for a person’s death due to provocative behavior or extraordinary circumstances. This could include shooting someone in self-defense, killing someone while suffering from a mental illness, or killing for what a reasonable person would consider honorable reasons. In Montana, voluntary manslaughter is a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. In contrast, involuntary manslaughter occurs when a person kills another person without intending to, usually due to negligence, recklessness, or gross negligence. Examples of involuntary manslaughter include killing someone while driving drunk or killing someone while acting without paying attention to their surroundings. In Montana, involuntary manslaughter is generally classified as a felony and carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
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