Murder in Idaho law constitutes the intentional killing, under circumstances defined by law, of people within or under the jurisdiction of the U.S. state of Idaho.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that in the year 2021, the state had a murder rate somewhat below the median for the entire country.[1]
Idaho has three homicide offenses in total, including the two degrees of murder. The most serious form of homicide, first-degree murder, constitutes the unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought or the intentional application of torture to a human being, which results in the death of a human being, with one of the following circumstances present:
Second-degree murder constitutes the unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought or the intentional application of torture to a human being without any of the above circumstances present.[2][3]
First-degree murder is punishable by life in prison with the possibility of parole after at least 10 years, life-without-parole, or death. Second-degree murder is punished by 10 years to life-without-parole.[2][3][4]
The sentences for homicide offenses in Idaho are listed below.
| Offense | Mandatory sentence |
|---|---|
| Manslaughter | Up to 10 years in prison |
| Second-degree murder | 10 years to life-without-parole |
| First-degree murder |
|