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

In Arizona, a person is charged with murder when the offender knowingly and intentionally causes the death of a person or unborn child. The murder must be premeditated. In the state of Arizona, if one is found guilty of first-degree murder, there is the possibility of receiving the death penalty.[1]

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that in the year 2020, the state had a murder rate near the median for the entire country.[2]

Felony murder rule

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Arizona abolished all common law criminal concepts and replaced them with criminal statutes.[3] The felony murder rule survives in Arizona by current statutory law. The felony murder rule holds that a killing of a person occurring in the course of, or in the immediate flight from, the commission of the following crimes is considered murder in the first degree:[4]

A person convicted of murder in the first degree faces possible sentences of life imprisonment or, when aggravating factors exist, the death penalty.[5]

Penalties

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Source:[6]

Offense Mandatory sentencing
Negligent homicide 1 to 8 years in prison
Manslaughter 3 to 12+12 in prison
Second-degree murder 10 to 22 years in prison
First-degree murder
  • Death (de jure)[a] or
  • Life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or
  • 25 years to life, A person convicted of first-degree murder will face a sentence of 25 years-to-life in prison, and thus must serve at least 25 years before being eligible for parole

Notes

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  1. ^ Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has set a moratorium on Arizona's death penalty.

References

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  1. ^ "13-1105 – First-degree murder; classification". Azleg.state.az.us. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  2. ^ "National Center for Health Statistics: Homicide Mortality by State". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. February 16, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  3. ^ A.R.S. 13-103.
  4. ^ A.R.S. 13-1105.
  5. ^ A.R.S. 13-751.
  6. ^ "Arizona Vehicular Crimes - Phoenix AZ Criminal Lawyers - Gillespie Law Firm". Craiggillespie.com. Retrieved August 2, 2012.