What is involuntary manslaughter?

Involuntary manslaughter refers specifically to unintentional killings that result from criminal negligence or a reckless disregard for human life. This means that the perpetrator did not intend to cause death but acted in such a way that their actions were so reckless or negligent that it led to someone's death.

For instance, if an individual was driving under the influence of alcohol and caused a fatal accident, that could be classified as involuntary manslaughter because the death was unintentional but resulted from criminally negligent behavior. This definition highlights that the key element of involuntary manslaughter is the absence of intent to kill, combined with a failure to act in a reasonably careful manner that a responsible person would normally adopt.

In contrast, the other options describe different types of homicides that do involve intent or specific circumstances that elevate the crime from involuntary manslaughter to more serious charges. For example, intentional killing due to provocation implies a conscious decision to kill, while a killing occurring during the commission of a felony relates to felony murder, which carries more severe penalties. Similarly, malice aforethought indicates a deliberate intention to kill, distinguishing those actions from involuntary manslaughter.