Murder in Kentucky law

Murder in Kentucky constitutes the intentional killing, under circumstances defined by law, of people within or under the jurisdiction of the U.S. state of Kentucky.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that in the year 2020, the state had a murder rate well above the median for the entire country.[1]

Felony murder rule

In the state of Kentucky, the common law felony murder rule has been completely abolished.[2]

KRS § 507.020

The Kentucky General Assembly abolished the felony murder rule with the enactment of Kentucky Revised Statutes § 507.020. Recognizing that an automatic application of the rule could result in conviction of murder without a culpable mindset, the Kentucky Legislature instead allowed the circumstances of a case, like the commission of a felony, to be considered separately. The facts each case would be used to show the mental state of the defendant instead of using an automatic rule.[3]

Penalties
Offense Mandatory sentencing
Murder Death Penalty, Life Without Parole, Life with parole eligibility in 25 years, Life with parole eligibility in 20 years, or 20 to 50 years
Voluntary Manslaughter 10 to 20 years imprisonment
Involuntary Manslaughter Five to ten years imprisonment
Aggravated Murder Death penalty, 25 years to life, or life without parole
Reckless Homicide One to five years imprisonment

References
  1. "National Center for Health Statistics: Homicide Mortality by State". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. February 16, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  2. Bonnie, Richard J; Coughlin, Anne M; Jeffries Jr, John C; Low, Peter W (2004). Criminal Law (Second ed.). Foundation Press, New York, NY. p. 860. ISBN 1587787202.
  3. "Kentucky Revised Statutes § 507.020 Murder" (PDF). Kentucky General Assembly.


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