Manslaughter in Connecticut: Degrees, Sentences and DUI Deaths

Connecticut divides manslaughter into two degrees. Manslaughter in the first degree (Conn. Gen. Stat. 53a-55) is a class B felony punishable by 1 to 20 years, and manslaughter in the second degree (53a-56), which covers recklessly causing a death, is a class C felony punishable by 1 to 10 years; using a firearm raises the stakes under 53a-55a and 53a-56a.

Deaths caused by driving have their own offenses: manslaughter in the second degree with a motor vehicle (53a-56b) for impaired driving, misconduct with a motor vehicle (53a-57) for criminal negligence, and negligent homicide with a motor vehicle (14-222a). Criminally negligent homicide (53a-58), a class A misdemeanor, covers other deaths caused by criminal negligence but expressly excludes deaths caused by a motor vehicle. For how other states grade the same conduct, see our guide to manslaughter laws by state.

Information last verified on October 18, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers Connecticut criminal statutes on homicide below murder: manslaughter in the first and second degree (Conn. Gen. Stat. 53a-55 and 53a-56) and their firearm forms (53a-55a and 53a-56a), manslaughter in the second degree with a motor vehicle (53a-56b) and with a vessel (15-132a), misconduct with a motor vehicle (53a-57), criminally negligent homicide (53a-58), negligent homicide with a motor vehicle (14-222a), the extreme emotional disturbance rule in 53a-54a, the mental-state definitions in 53a-3, the sentencing ranges in 53a-35a and 53a-36, fleeing and leaving-the-scene deaths (14-223 and 14-224), the persistent offender, firearm, parole and registration rules that reach these offenses, and other offenses graded by a resulting death. It does not cover murder (see how long a life sentence is in Connecticut and murder sentencing guidelines), self-defense (see Connecticut self-defense laws), civil lawsuits over a death (see Connecticut wrongful death), or federal offenses (see the manslaughter laws hub).

What is manslaughter in Connecticut?

Connecticut does not use the labels voluntary and involuntary manslaughter. Its Penal Code grades manslaughter by degree and by the person's mental state.

Manslaughter in the first degree. Section 53a-55(a) reads:

"(a) A person is guilty of manslaughter in the first degree when: (1) With intent to cause serious physical injury to another person, he causes the death of such person or of a third person; or (2) with intent to cause the death of another person, he causes the death of such person or of a third person under circumstances which do not constitute murder because he committed the proscribed act or acts under the influence of extreme emotional disturbance, as provided in subsection (a) of section 53a-54a, except that the fact that homicide was committed under the influence of extreme emotional disturbance constitutes a mitigating circumstance reducing murder to manslaughter in the first degree and need not be proved in any prosecution initiated under this subsection; or (3) under circumstances evincing an extreme indifference to human life, he recklessly engages in conduct which creates a grave risk of death to another person, and thereby causes the death of another person."

Manslaughter in the second degree. Under 53a-56(a), a person is guilty when "(1) He recklessly causes the death of another person; or (2) he intentionally causes or aids another person, other than by force, duress or deception, to commit suicide."

Readers who use the common terms will find that the intentional killing under extreme emotional disturbance in 53a-55(a)(2) is closest to what other states call voluntary manslaughter, while the reckless forms in 53a-55(a)(3) and 53a-56(a)(1) and the criminally negligent offenses below them are closest to involuntary manslaughter.

The main homicide offenses below murder in Connecticut are:

• Manslaughter in the first degree (53a-55), class B felony.
• Manslaughter in the first degree with a firearm (53a-55a), class B felony.
• Manslaughter in the second degree (53a-56), class C felony.
• Manslaughter in the second degree with a firearm (53a-56a), class C felony.
• Manslaughter in the second degree with a motor vehicle (53a-56b), class C felony.
• Manslaughter in the second degree with a vessel (15-132a), class C felony.
• Misconduct with a motor vehicle (53a-57), class D felony.
• Negligent homicide with a motor vehicle (14-222a), class E felony, up to 3 years.
• Criminally negligent homicide (53a-58), class A misdemeanor.

Is manslaughter a felony in Connecticut? Offenses and penalties

Every degree of manslaughter in Connecticut is a felony. Below them, misconduct with a motor vehicle is a class D felony, negligent homicide with a motor vehicle is a class E felony of up to 3 years, and criminally negligent homicide is a class A misdemeanor.

The prison terms come from 53a-35a: "(5) For the class B felony of manslaughter in the first degree with a firearm under section 53a-55a, a term not less than five years nor more than forty years; (6) For a class B felony other than manslaughter in the first degree with a firearm under section 53a-55a, a term not less than one year nor more than twenty years; (7) For a class C felony, a term not less than one year nor more than ten years; (8) For a class D felony, a term not more than five years." Section 53a-36(1) sets "a term not to exceed one year" for a class A misdemeanor. For how Connecticut sentences each felony and misdemeanor class, see Connecticut felony and misdemeanor classes.

Extreme emotional disturbance and provocation

Connecticut has no heat-of-passion statute. Its mitigation rule is extreme emotional disturbance, set out as an affirmative defense in the murder statute, 53a-54a(a):

"it shall be an affirmative defense that the defendant committed the proscribed act or acts under the influence of extreme emotional disturbance for which there was a reasonable explanation or excuse, the reasonableness of which is to be determined from the viewpoint of a person in the defendant's situation under the circumstances as the defendant believed them to be, provided nothing contained in this subsection shall constitute a defense to a prosecution for, or preclude a conviction of, manslaughter in the first degree or any other crime."

Section 53a-55(a)(2) makes an intentional killing committed under that disturbance manslaughter in the first degree. In State v. Elliott, 177 Conn. 1 (1979), the Connecticut Supreme Court held that, in deciding whether the defendant has proven the defense "by a fair preponderance of the evidence as a mitigation of murder to manslaughter," the jury must find that:

"(a) the emotional disturbance is not a mental disease or defect that rises to the level of insanity as defined by the Penal Code; (b) the defendant was exposed to an extremely unusual and overwhelming state, that is, not mere annoyance or unhappiness; and (c) the defendant had an extreme emotional reaction to it, as a result of which there was a loss of self-control, and reason was overborne by extreme intense feelings, such as passion, anger, distress, grief, excessive agitation or other similar emotions."

Public Act 19-27: the "panic" defense limits

Public Act 19-27, signed June 21, 2019 and effective October 1, 2019, amended three sections of the Penal Code. In the mental disease or defect defense (53a-13), it provides that "No defendant may claim as a defense under this section that such mental disease or defect was based solely on the discovery of, knowledge about or potential disclosure of the victim's actual or perceived sex, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, including under circumstances in which the victim made an unwanted, nonforcible, romantic or sexual advance toward the defendant, or if the defendant and victim dated or had a romantic relationship."

It also provides that "Justification as a defense does not include provocation that resulted solely from" the same discovery, knowledge or potential disclosure (53a-16), and made a parallel change to the use-of-force rules in 53a-18(b). The act did not amend 53a-54a or 53a-55, and its text does not mention extreme emotional disturbance.

Self-defense and other justifications are covered on the Connecticut self-defense laws page.

Reckless and criminally negligent killings

Section 53a-3 defines the mental states used throughout the Penal Code. Recklessness, which drives 53a-56(a)(1) and 53a-55(a)(3):

"(13) A person acts recklessly with respect to a result or to a circumstance described by a statute defining an offense when he is aware of and consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that such result will occur or that such circumstance exists. The risk must be of such nature and degree that disregarding it constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of conduct that a reasonable person would observe in the situation;"

Criminal negligence, which drives 53a-57 and 53a-58:

"(14) A person acts with criminal negligence with respect to a result or to a circumstance described by a statute defining an offense when he fails to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable risk that such result will occur or that such circumstance exists. The risk must be of such nature and degree that the failure to perceive it constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would observe in the situation;"

The difference is awareness. A person who is aware of the risk and consciously disregards it acts recklessly; a person who fails to perceive the risk acts with criminal negligence. Recklessly causing a death is manslaughter in the second degree, a class C felony. Causing a death with criminal negligence is criminally negligent homicide under 53a-58, a class A misdemeanor: "A person is guilty of criminally negligent homicide when, with criminal negligence, he causes the death of another person, except where the defendant caused such death by a motor vehicle." Reckless conduct that also shows "extreme indifference to human life" and creates "a grave risk of death" is manslaughter in the first degree under 53a-55(a)(3).

Vehicular manslaughter and DUI deaths in Connecticut

Because 53a-58 excludes deaths caused by a motor vehicle, Connecticut handles driving deaths through a separate set of offenses, graded by impairment and by the driver's level of fault. Unlike 53a-58, the general manslaughter sections (53a-55 and 53a-56) do not exclude deaths caused by a motor vehicle.

Manslaughter in the second degree with a motor vehicle (53a-56b)

"(a) A person is guilty of manslaughter in the second degree with a motor vehicle when, while operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug or both, he causes the death of another person as a consequence of the effect of such liquor or drug."

It is a class C felony, punishable by 1 to 10 years. The death must result "as a consequence of the effect of such liquor or drug." Under 53a-56b(b), the court "shall suspend the motor vehicle operator's license or nonresident operating privilege" of a person found guilty "for one year," and shall order the person not to operate any motor vehicle that is not equipped with an approved ignition interlock device "for a period of two years after such person's operator's license or nonresident operating privilege is restored."

For Title 14, a "motor vehicle" is "any vehicle propelled or drawn by any nonmuscular power, including a low-speed vehicle," and it "does not include aircraft, motor boats, road rollers" (14-1). Boating deaths fall under the vessel statute below.

Misconduct with a motor vehicle (53a-57)

"A person is guilty of misconduct with a motor vehicle when, with criminal negligence in the operation of a motor vehicle, he causes the death of another person." It is a class D felony, punishable by up to 5 years. No impairment is required.

Negligent homicide with a motor vehicle (14-222a)

"Any person who, in consequence of the negligent operation of a motor vehicle, causes the death of another person shall be fined not more than three thousand five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than three years, or both."

This offense requires only negligence, not criminal negligence. Section 14-222a assigns no class; because its maximum is more than one year and not more than three years, 53a-25(d)(1) deems it a class E felony. Public Act 19-53 raised its maximum from 6 months and $1,000 to the current 3 years and $3,500.

Fleeing the police and leaving the scene

Under 14-223(b), a driver signaled to stop by an officer in a police vehicle who increases speed "in an attempt to escape or elude such police officer" commits a class A misdemeanor, "except that, if such violation causes the death or serious physical injury, as defined in section 53a-3, of another person, such person shall be guilty of a class C felony," with a one-year license suspension for a first offense. If a prior offense under 14-223(b) caused a death or serious physical injury and a later one does too, it is a class C felony for which one year of the sentence may not be suspended or reduced, with a license suspension of 18 months to 2 years. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may reinstate the license earlier after a hearing and "upon a showing of compelling mitigating circumstances."

Under 14-224(a), each operator "who is knowingly involved in an accident which results in the death of any other person shall at once stop and render such assistance as may be needed" and give identifying information. A violation of subsection (a) is a class B felony under 14-224(f), punishable by 1 to 20 years. See Connecticut hit-and-run laws.

Racing and street takeovers under 14-224(c)(1) are a class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a class D felony with a fine of at least $2,000 for a subsequent one (14-224(g)(2), as amended by Public Act 25-80, effective October 1, 2025); the section has no separate tier for a death. Public Acts 23-135 and 23-203, both effective October 1, 2023, rewrote 14-224(c) through (h) to add street takeovers and parking areas; the class B felony for leaving the scene of a fatal accident in 14-224(f) carried through. For DUI penalties where no one dies, see Connecticut DUI laws.

Boating deaths

Section 15-132a makes it manslaughter in the second degree with a vessel when a person, "while operating a vessel upon the waters of this state under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both, such person causes the death of another person as a consequence of the effect of such liquor or drug." It is a class C felony, and the court "shall suspend the safe boating certificate for operation or certificate of personal watercraft operation for one year." Reckless operation of a vessel in the first degree (15-140k), operating at a speed or in a manner that results in death or serious physical injury, is punishable by a fine of $100 to $1,000, up to 6 months, or both.

Other homicide offenses below murder

Assault of a pregnant woman resulting in termination of pregnancy (53a-59c). A person commits this offense by committing first-degree assault under 53a-59(a)(1) when the victim is pregnant and the assault "results in the termination of pregnancy that does not result in a live birth." It is a class A felony. It is an affirmative defense that the actor did not know the victim was pregnant.

Other offenses graded by a resulting death

• Negligent hunting in the first degree, 53a-217e(b): with criminal negligence while hunting, discharging a loaded hunting implement and thereby causing a death; class D felony.
• Interfering with an officer, 53a-167a(b): a class A misdemeanor, but a class D felony if the violation causes the death or serious physical injury of another person.
• Failing to move over for an emergency vehicle, 14-283b(d)(1): an infraction, but a fine of up to $20,000 if the violation results in the death of the operator or an occupant of an emergency vehicle (as raised by Public Act 25-159, effective October 1, 2025).
• Aggravated endangerment of a highway worker, 14-212d(f): a fine of $20,000 if the offense results in the death of a highway worker, in addition to any other penalty authorized by law (as raised by Public Act 25-159, effective October 1, 2025).

Sentencing: firearms, persistent offenders, parole and registration

Firearm forms. Manslaughter in the first degree with a firearm (53a-55a) carries 5 to 40 years, "of which five years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court." Manslaughter in the second degree with a firearm (53a-56a) is a class C felony "for which one year of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court."

Firearm add-on (53-202k). A person who commits any class A, B or C felony and in doing so uses, or is armed with and threatens the use of, or displays, or represents possessing a firearm (other than an assault weapon) "shall be imprisoned for a term of five years, which shall not be suspended or reduced and shall be in addition and consecutive to any term of imprisonment imposed for conviction of such felony."

Persistent dangerous felony offenders (53a-40). A person who "stands convicted of manslaughter" (the statute does not limit it to a degree) and who was previously convicted of and imprisoned under a sentence of more than one year for a crime the statute lists can be found a persistent dangerous felony offender. The court then imposes, in place of the ordinary sentence, a term "not (A) less than twice the minimum term of imprisonment authorized for such crime, or (B) more than twice the maximum term of imprisonment authorized for such crime or forty years, whichever is greater." If a mandatory minimum term is authorized for the crime, that sentence must include twice the mandatory minimum. A person who, at separate times, was twice convicted of and imprisoned for listed crimes faces a term of not less than three times the minimum term and up to life, including three times any mandatory minimum.

Persistent serious felony offenders (53a-40(c), (k)). A person convicted of a felony who was previously convicted of and imprisoned under a term of more than one year for a crime can be found a persistent serious felony offender, and the court may then impose the sentence authorized for the next more serious degree of felony. This rule does not apply where the present conviction is for a crime listed in 53a-40(a)(1), such as manslaughter, and the prior conviction was for a crime not listed in 53a-40(a).

Parole (54-125a). For a person serving a definite or total effective sentence of more than two years, parole eligibility generally begins after one-half of the total effective sentence, less any risk reduction credit earned under 18-98e. A person convicted of an offense "where the underlying facts and circumstances of the offense involve the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person" is ineligible for parole "until such person has served not less than eighty-five per cent of the definite sentence imposed."

Deadly-weapon offender registry (54-280, 54-280a). A conviction under 53a-55a, 53a-56a or 53-202k is an "offense committed with a deadly weapon." A person convicted of such an offense and released into the community on or after January 1, 2014 must register with the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection within 14 calendar days of release and "maintain such registration for five years." Connecticut's sexual offender registry chapter does not list manslaughter.

Recent changes

• October 1, 2019: Public Act 19-27 limited mental disease or defect and justification claims based solely on the victim's actual or perceived sex, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression (53a-13, 53a-16, 53a-18).
• 2019: Public Act 19-53 raised the maximum for negligent homicide with a motor vehicle (14-222a) to 3 years and $3,500.
• October 1, 2023: Public Acts 23-135 and 23-203 rewrote 14-224(c) through (h) to cover street takeovers; Public Act 23-40 amended the move-over statute, 14-283b.
• October 1, 2025: Public Act 25-159 raised the death-tier fines for failing to move over for an emergency vehicle (14-283b(d)(1)) and for aggravated endangerment of a highway worker (14-212d(f)) to $20,000, double the earlier amounts. Public Act 25-80 added a fine of at least $2,000 to the class D felony for a subsequent racing or street-takeover offense (14-224(g)(2)).

As published in the current General Statutes, the manslaughter sections carry older amendments: 53a-55 was last amended in 1983 (P.A. 83-486), 53a-55a in 2007 (P.A. 07-143), 53a-56b in 2008 (P.A. 08-150) and 53a-57 in 1982 (P.A. 82-403), while 53a-56 and 53a-58 date from the 1969 Penal Code (1969 P.A. 828).

Federal law (18 U.S.C. 1112) separately covers manslaughter on federal land and in other places under federal jurisdiction; the manslaughter laws hub explains it.

Leading Connecticut case

• State v. Elliott, 177 Conn. 1 (1979): to find that a defendant proved extreme emotional disturbance as a mitigation of murder to manslaughter, the jury must find a disturbance short of insanity, exposure to "an extremely unusual and overwhelming state, that is, not mere annoyance or unhappiness," and an extreme emotional reaction causing a loss of self-control.

Related Connecticut laws

• Manslaughter laws by state
• Connecticut DUI laws
• Connecticut hit-and-run laws
• Connecticut self-defense laws
• Connecticut felony and misdemeanor classes
• First, second and third degree manslaughter explained

This article provides general legal information about Connecticut law, not legal advice. Statutes and court decisions change, and how they apply depends on the facts. For advice about a specific situation, contact a lawyer licensed in Connecticut.

Last updated: October 18, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is manslaughter a felony in Connecticut?

Yes. Manslaughter in the first degree (Conn. Gen. Stat. 53a-55) is a class B felony and manslaughter in the second degree (53a-56) is a class C felony. Criminally negligent homicide (53a-58) is a class A misdemeanor and does not apply to deaths caused by a motor vehicle.

What is the sentence for manslaughter in Connecticut?

First-degree manslaughter carries 1 to 20 years under 53a-35a(6), or 5 to 40 years with a firearm under 53a-35a(5). Second-degree manslaughter carries 1 to 10 years under 53a-35a(7).

Does Connecticut have voluntary and involuntary manslaughter?

Not by those names. An intentional killing under extreme emotional disturbance, closest to voluntary manslaughter, is first-degree manslaughter under 53a-55(a)(2). Reckless killings are second-degree manslaughter (53a-56), or first degree when they show extreme indifference to human life (53a-55(a)(3)).

What is DUI manslaughter in Connecticut?

Manslaughter in the second degree with a motor vehicle (53a-56b) applies when a person operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug causes a death as a consequence of the effect of the liquor or drug. It is a class C felony, 1 to 10 years, with a 1-year license suspension and 2 years of ignition interlock after restoration.

What is misconduct with a motor vehicle in Connecticut?

Under 53a-57, it is causing a death with criminal negligence in the operation of a motor vehicle. It is a class D felony punishable by up to 5 years. A death caused by ordinary negligent driving falls under 14-222a, a class E felony punishable by up to 3 years, a fine up to $3,500, or both.

Can extreme emotional disturbance reduce murder to manslaughter in Connecticut?

Under 53a-54a(a), extreme emotional disturbance with a reasonable explanation or excuse is an affirmative defense to murder, and 53a-55(a)(2) makes such a killing manslaughter in the first degree. State v. Elliott (1979) held the defendant must prove it by a fair preponderance of the evidence.

When is a person eligible for parole after a manslaughter sentence in Connecticut?

Under 54-125a, parole eligibility for a sentence of more than two years generally begins after one-half of the sentence, less risk reduction credit. Where the offense's underlying facts involve the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person, the person must serve at least 85 percent of the definite sentence first.