Orange County Homicide Attorney

Personalized Legal Attention for Your Case

Generally defined, homicide means the killing of another. It can be considered an umbrella term for various types of conduct that can result in someone else’s death. In California, homicide offenses are some of the most serious and are vehemently pursued. A conviction for such a crime can result in up to life in prison or even the death sentence. If you've been charged with a homicide offense, act immediately to get skilled legal representation on your side. The consequences of being found guilty are too great to try to handle your case on your own.

At The Law Office of Jacqueline Goodman, Attorney Jacqueline Goodman understands the seriousness of a homicide charge. As such, she leverages her knowledge, skills, and resources to aggressively fight the allegations and work toward a favorable outcome. When you hire her, you will receive the dedicated and focused personalized attention you expect from a small firm. Attorney Goodman will personally handle your case from its start until the conclusion.

What Types of Crimes Are Considered Homicides?

In California, there isn't a specific homicide law; rather, there are various statutes criminalizing behavior that could cause the death of another person.

Under California laws, the following are considered homicide crimes:

• First-degree murder: This offense occurs when someone kills another person with "malice aforethought." That means they either deliberately engaged in behavior with the intent to kill, or they intentionally carried out some action, knowing that it could lead to the death of another.
• Second-degree murder: A person commits this crime when they deliberately kill someone else, but their conduct was not premeditated.
• Voluntary manslaughter: Unlike murder, voluntary manslaughter occurs when a person takes another's life without malice aforethought. Under California law, manslaughter is voluntary when it happens "upon a sudden quarrel or heat of passion."
• Involuntary manslaughter: This offense is committed when a person engages in an unlawful or lawful (without using necessary caution) act that results in someone else's death.
• Vehicular manslaughter: A person could be charged with this offense if they kill someone while driving their vehicle. The act is considered a crime if the driver was engaged in an unlawful activity or lawful activity but they were negligent while operating their vehicle.

What Are the Potential Prison Terms for a Homicide Conviction?

As mentioned before, if a person is found guilty of committing a homicide offense, they can face harsh penalties.

The specific punishments depend on the facts, but they could be as follows:

• First-degree murder: Life in prison or death
• Second-degree murder: 15 years to life in prison
• Voluntary manslaughter: 3, 6, or 11 years in prison
• Involuntary manslaughter: 2, 3, or 4 years in prison
• Vehicular manslaughter: Depending on the circumstances, either up to 1 year in jail or up to 10 years in prison

Retain Solid Legal Counsel as Soon as Possible

Building an effective defense for homicide charges takes time, as your situation needs to be thoroughly reviewed, which is why it's imperative to get started on your case immediately after your arrest. At The Law Office of Jacqueline Goodman, Attorney Jacqueline Goodman will take the time to get to know you and your circumstances and will examine all the evidence to develop an innovative legal strategy and fight allegations.