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Involuntary Manslaughter Penalties and Sentencing

If you’re suddenly incarcerated for involuntary manslaughter, a bail bondsman can post your bail for a small fraction of your full bail amount. You may be able to ensure your appearance at your criminal court hearing by signing your property over to a bail bondsman. A police officer’s justifiable killing of a gunman and killing an intruder in self-defense are forms of homicide. Murder and manslaughter are criminal forms of homicide. Involuntary manslaughter and vehicular homicide are separate crimes with different involuntary manslaughter penalties.

Bail for Manslaughter Cases in California

California counties use bail guidelines preset by county judges to determine bail for felony and misdemeanor crimes. Bail amounts vary slightly by county. Bail for charges of involuntary manslaughter starts at $50,000. Bail for vehicular manslaughter ranges from $50,000 to $250,000. Involuntary manslaughter penalties can include enhancements. If you leave the scene of the accident, the additional hit and run charge adds five years to your prison sentence.

Sentence for Involuntary Manslaughter

The minimum sentence for involuntary manslaughter is probably two years with additional time in the community under the supervision of a probation officer. The average sentence ranges from two to four years in prison. The minimum sentence for involuntary manslaughter is accompanied by a fine up to $10,000. You can also face a wrongful death lawsuit. You can be made to compensate the family of the victim for personal injury expenses plus the amount of wages that the victim would have earned until his or her retirement if you’re convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

Vehicular Manslaughter California

Vehicular manslaughter California is a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the nature of your criminal behavior. Killing someone by accidentally driving through a red light is misdemeanor manslaughter, but you still may be sentenced to involuntary manslaughter jail time. Killing someone while driving recklessly over a sidewalk involves gross negligence and is felony involuntary manslaughter.

Charges of Involuntary Manslaughter

The minimum vehicular involuntary manslaughter sentence is one year in jail under California Penal Code 193 b. A felony vehicular involuntary manslaughter sentence may be two, four, or six years in state prison under California Penal Code 193 b. Involuntary manslaughter penalties can include 10 years in prison if you accidentally killed someone in an accident designed for financial gain.

Criminal Justice Realignment

California Penal Code 1170 h criminal justice realignment, enacted in 2011, allows nonviolent offenders to serve their sentence in their county jail or the California Department of Mental Health rather than in a state prison. Under California Penal Code 1170 h, if you committed misdemeanor involuntary manslaughter, you may be able to serve your involuntary manslaughter jail time near your family and friends rather than in a state prison.

Negligent Homicide

Negligent homicide is an act of criminal negligence which causes someone’s death. Criminal negligence while operating a motor vehicle is a gross deviation from what the average driver considers reasonable. You may be able to get your criminal charges reduced to negligent homicide which is a lower level felony than vehicular homicide.

Involuntary Manslaughter Felony

If you were involved in a felony crime when you committed involuntary manslaughter, your involuntary manslaughter bail and your sentence can be doubled. In California involuntary manslaughter felony charge is called a two-strike offense. You can get sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. If you killed someone during the commission of a felony crime, you’ll be lucky to get involuntary manslaughter bail.

Bounty Hunters

Bounty hunters employed by your bondsman find fugitives who “jump bail.” If you don’t appear at your criminal court hearing, your bondman loses the money he posted for your bail. Even if you signed your home or other property over to the bondsman, bounty hunters will find you. Bounty hunters bring fugitives into court for their criminal court hearings. Bounty hunters retrieve 90% of all fugitives each year in the United States.

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