First-degree murder: penalties in each state and country

• Capital murder (a murder committed in listed circumstances, for example during a first-degree kidnapping, robbery, rape or burglary, or of an on-duty police officer) (Capital offence)

  Least

  Life imprisonment without parole

  Most

  Death

  Code of Alabama §§ 13A-5-39, 13A-5-40, 13A-5-45

Alabama has no degrees of murder. Capital murder is murder committed in the circumstances listed in § 13A-5-40(a).

• Murder in the first degree (for example, a killing with intent to cause death, or a child's death in the course of a sexual offence or kidnapping) (Unclassified felony)

  Least

  30 years

  Most

  99 years

  Fine

  Up to $500,000

  A mandatory term of 99 years applies in listed cases, for example the murder of a uniformed or clearly identified peace officer, firefighter or correctional employee on duty, or a defendant with a prior murder conviction.

  AS 11.41.100; AS 12.55.125(a); AS 12.55.035(b)

• First-degree murder (Class 1 felony)

  Least

  No minimum term set by the statute

  Most

  Death; or life imprisonment, with no release for at least 25 years (35 if the victim was under 15); or natural life, with no release at all

  Fine

  Fine of up to $150,000

  A person under 18 at the time of the offence cannot receive death, but may receive life or natural life.

  A.R.S. § 13-1105; §§ 13-751 and 13-752

• Murder in the first degree (Felony)

  Least

  25 years to life

  Most

  Death; or life in prison without the possibility of parole; or 25 years to life

  Fine

  Fine of up to $10,000, where the offence sets no fine (§ 672)

  With a special circumstance found true (§ 190.2), the sentence is death or life without parole. The penalty is decided under §§ 190.1 to 190.4.

  Cal. Penal Code § 187; § 189; § 190

• Murder in the first degree (after deliberation and with intent to cause death, or under circumstances of universal malice, or the killing of a child under 12 by a person in a position of trust, among others) (Class 1 felony)

  Least

  Life imprisonment

  Most

  Life imprisonment

  Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-3-102; § 18-1.3-401

• Murder: causing the death of another with intent to cause death (Class A felony)

  Least

  25 years

  Most

  Life imprisonment

  Fine

  Up to $20,000

  The term is not less than 25 years and not more than life (§ 53a-35a(2)).

  Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-54a; §§ 53a-35a, 53a-41

• Murder with special circumstances (the class A felony of murder committed on or after 25 April 2012 under § 53a-54b) (Class A felony)

  Least

  Life imprisonment without the possibility of release

  Most

  Life imprisonment without the possibility of release

  Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-54b, 53a-35a(1)(B)

• Murder in the first degree (intentionally causing death, killing during a felony, killing a police officer or other listed victim, and other listed cases) (Class A felony)

  Least

  Life

  Most

  Life imprisonment without parole (§ 4209)

  An adult offender is sentenced to imprisonment for the remainder of their natural life without benefit of probation, parole or any other reduction (§ 4209).

  11 Del. C. § 636; § 4205

• Murder in the first degree (Capital felony)

  Least

  No minimum term set by the statute

  Most

  Death, or life imprisonment with no parole

  A person under 18 at the time cannot receive death. For such a person the sentence is life or a long term of years after a sentencing hearing (§ 775.082).

  Fla. Stat. § 782.04; § 775.082

• Murder of the first degree (including murder by torture, a murder during arson, rape, robbery, burglary, kidnapping or mayhem, and murder by a person under a sentence for murder) (Offence)

  Least

  Life imprisonment (with at least 10 years before parole eligibility, or a fixed life sentence)

  Most

  Death

  The death penalty requires written notice. If a jury finds an aggravating circumstance but finds that death would be unjust, the court must impose a fixed life sentence. If the jury does not find an aggravating circumstance, or death is not sought, the court must impose life with a minimum of not less than ten years before eligibility for parole.

  Idaho Code § 18-4004

• First degree murder: killing without lawful justification with intent to kill or do great bodily harm, knowing the acts create a strong probability of death or great bodily harm, or in the course of a forcible felony (First degree murder)

  Least

  20 years

  Most

  Natural life imprisonment

  The determinate term is 20 to 60 years. It is 60 to 100 years when an extended term is imposed under § 5-8-2, and the court may impose natural life as provided in § 5-8-1. Probation and conditional discharge are not available.

  720 ILCS 5/9-1; 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-20

• Murder in the first degree (Class A felony)

  Least

  No minimum term set by the statute

  Most

  Life imprisonment, with no parole unless the Governor commutes the sentence

  A person who was under 18 at the time of the offence receives a different sentence under § 902.1.

  Iowa Code § 707.2; § 902.1

• Murder (Murder (outside the classes))

  Least

  25 years (if a term of years is chosen)

  Most

  Imprisonment for life

  It is an affirmative defence that the person caused the death under the influence of extreme anger or extreme fear brought about by adequate provocation. The offence is then manslaughter (see below).

  17-A M.R.S. §§ 201, 1603

Maine has one crime of murder: intentionally or knowingly causing death, or causing it by conduct that shows depraved indifference to human life. It has no degrees.

• Murder in the first degree (Felony)

  Least

  No minimum term set by the statute

  Most

  Life imprisonment with the possibility of parole, or life without the possibility of parole

  Md. Code, Crim. Law § 2-201

• Murder in the first degree (Offence)

  Least

  Life imprisonment without parole

  Most

  Life imprisonment without parole

  A person who committed it on or after their 14th birthday and before their 18th is eligible for parole after a term of years fixed by the court (§ 2(b)).

  Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 265, § 2(a)

• First-degree murder (Felony)

  Least

  Life imprisonment without eligibility for parole

  Most

  Life imprisonment without eligibility for parole

  First-degree murder covers premeditated murder, and murder committed in perpetrating or attempting arson, criminal sexual conduct, child abuse in the first degree, robbery, carjacking, home invasion, larceny, extortion, kidnapping and other listed offences. Special rules apply to offenders under 18 (MCL 769.25 and 769.25a).

  Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.316

• Murder in the first degree (Felony)

  Least

  Life

  Most

  Imprisonment for life

  Minn. Stat. § 609.185

First-degree murder covers a killing with premeditation and intent, a death in the course of first- or second-degree criminal sexual conduct with force, a killing with intent while committing burglary, aggravated robbery, kidnapping or arson, and other listed cases.

• Murder in the first degree: knowingly causing the death of another person after deliberation (Class A felony)

  Least

  Life imprisonment without eligibility for probation or parole

  Most

  Death

  The person must be 18 or older at the time of the offence. A person under 18 is sentenced under a separate rule in the section.

  Mo. Rev. Stat. § 565.020

• Deliberate homicide: purposely or knowingly causing the death of another human being, or causing a death in the course of a forcible felony (Offence)

  Least

  10 years (the alternatives are life or death; maximum term 100 years)

  Most

  Death

  The offender may be punished by death (as provided in §§ 46-18-301 to 46-18-310), unless under 18 at the time of the offence; by life imprisonment; or by imprisonment for not less than 10 years nor more than 100 years.

  Mont. Code Ann. § 45-5-102

• Murder in the first degree: killing purposely and with deliberate and premeditated malice, or in the perpetration of listed felonies (Class IA felony)

  Least

  Life imprisonment

  Most

  Life imprisonment

  Whether the offence is punished as a Class I felony (which can carry death) is decided by a separate sentencing proceeding under §§ 29-2519 to 29-2524.

  Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-303; §§ 28-105, 28-106

• Murder of the first degree (Category A felony)

  Least

  Life with parole possible after 20 years, or 50 years with parole possible after 20

  Most

  Death

  The other options are life without the possibility of parole, or life with the possibility of parole once a minimum of 20 years has been served, or a definite term of 50 years with eligibility after 20 years.

  Nev. Rev. Stat. § 200.030

• Murder in the first degree: purposely causing the death of another, or knowingly causing death in listed circumstances (Murder in the first degree)

  Least

  Life imprisonment without eligibility for parole

  Most

  Life imprisonment without eligibility for parole

  N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 630:1-a

• Murder in the first degree (Class A-I felony)

  Least

  Life, with a minimum term of 20 to 25 years in some cases

  Most

  Life imprisonment without parole

  Fine

  Fine of up to the higher of $5,000 or double the gain from the crime (§ 80.00)

  A class A-I felony. A life sentence carries a minimum of 15 to 25 years under § 70.00(3), and a life sentence without parole may be imposed for first-degree murder (§ 70.00(5)).

  N.Y. Penal Law § 125.27; § 70.00

• Murder in the first degree (by poison, lying in wait, torture, willful, deliberate and premeditated killing, or during a listed felony) (Class A felony)

  Least

  Life imprisonment without parole

  Most

  Death

  Murder in the first degree is a Class A felony, punished with death or imprisonment for life without parole, as the court decides under G.S. 15A-2000 (G.S. 14-17(a)).

  N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-17; § 15A-1340.17

• Murder (Class AA felony)

  Least

  Life

  Most

  Life imprisonment without parole

  The court must say whether the life sentence is with or without parole. If with parole, the person is not eligible for consideration for 30 years, less good-conduct reductions.

  N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-16-01; § 12.1-32-01

North Dakota has one crime of murder, with no degrees: intentionally or knowingly causing death, causing death under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life, or causing a death in the course of treason, robbery, burglary, kidnapping, arson, gross sexual imposition or escape.

• Aggravated murder (Aggravated murder)

  Least

  Life imprisonment

  Most

  Death

  Fine

  Up to $25,000, in addition

  No person who was under 18 when the offence was committed may be sentenced to death or to life without parole, and a person found ineligible because of serious mental illness may not be sentenced to death.

  Ohio Rev. Code §§ 2903.01, 2929.02(A)

Aggravated murder (R.C. 2903.01) is purposely causing death with prior calculation and design, purposely causing death while committing or attempting listed felonies (kidnapping, rape, aggravated arson, arson, aggravated robbery, robbery, aggravated burglary, burglary and others), purposely killing a child under 13, and other listed cases.

• Murder of the first degree: an intentional killing (Murder of the first degree)

  Least

  Life imprisonment

  Most

  Death

  The sentence is death or life imprisonment, under the procedure of 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711.

  18 Pa.C.S. §§ 2502(a), 1102(a)

• Murder in the first degree (Offence)

  Least

  Life imprisonment

  Most

  Life imprisonment

  In listed aggravated cases (such as a killing creating a great risk of death to more than one person, at the direction of another for money, by torture, of a judge, law enforcement officer or firefighter on duty, or by a prisoner), the court may order under chapter 19.2 of title 12 that the person is not eligible for parole.

  R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-23-2

• Murder (Felony)

  Least

  30 years (mandatory minimum)

  Most

  Death, or imprisonment for life (until death, without parole)

  S.C. Code Ann. § 16-3-20

South Carolina has no degrees of murder. The section defines murder as the killing of any person with malice aforethought, either express or implied.

• Murder in the first degree (a killing with a premeditated design to effect death, or during arson, rape, robbery, burglary, kidnapping or a destructive device) (Class A felony)

  Least

  Life (a lesser sentence may not be given)

  Most

  Death or life imprisonment

  Fine

  A fine of $50,000 may be added

  S.D. Codified Laws §§ 22-16-4, 22-16-12, 22-6-1

• Capital murder (Capital felony)

  Least

  No minimum term set by the statute

  Most

  Death, or life imprisonment without parole

  A person under 18 at the time of the offence receives life imprisonment, not death or life without parole.

  Tex. Penal Code § 19.03; § 12.31

Texas has no 'first-degree murder' by that name. The nearest offence is capital murder (§ 19.03), which covers the most serious killings, such as the murder of a police officer, murder committed in the course of certain other serious crimes, and murder for hire.

• Murder in the first degree (Offence)

  Least

  35 years (minimum term)

  Most

  Life imprisonment, or life without the possibility of parole

  A jury may find aggravating or mitigating factors that justify a different minimum term (§ 2303(b)).

  13 V.S.A. § 2303

• Murder in the first degree (Class 2 felony)

  Least

  20 years

  Most

  Life

  Fine

  Fine of up to $100,000

  Includes a willful, deliberate and premeditated killing, and a killing in the course of arson, rape, robbery, burglary or abduction.

  Va. Code § 18.2-32; § 18.2-10

• Aggravated murder (capital murder) (Class 1 felony)

  Least

  Life

  Most

  Life imprisonment, with no parole

  Fine

  Fine of up to $100,000

  Covers the most serious killings, such as a premeditated killing of a law-enforcement officer, a killing for hire, or a killing in the course of abduction for money. A person who was 18 or older receives life with no parole.

  Va. Code § 18.2-31; § 18.2-10

• Murder in the first degree (Class A felony)

  Least

  No minimum term set by the statute

  Most

  Life imprisonment

  Fine

  Fine of up to $50,000

  RCW 9A.32.030; RCW 9A.20.021

• Aggravated first-degree murder (Class A felony)

  Least

  No minimum term set by the statute

  Most

  Life imprisonment without the possibility of release or parole

  Life imprisonment without the possibility of release or parole.

  RCW 10.95.030; RCW 10.95.020

• Murder in the first degree (Offence)

  Least

  Life imprisonment

  Most

  Life imprisonment

  Whether the offender can be paroled is decided under § 62-3-15, which was not read for this table.

  W. Va. Code § 61-2-2

• Assassinat (murder with premeditation or by ambush), parricide, poisoning (Crime (réclusion))

  Least

  No minimum term set by the statute

  Most

  Death

  A mother who kills her newborn child is punished with réclusion of 10 to 20 years (art. 261).

  Penal Code of Algeria, art. 255-261

• Meurtre accompanying or following another crime, or committed to prepare or help a délit or to escape (Crime (réclusion))

  Least

  No minimum term set by the statute

  Most

  Death

  Penal Code of Algeria, art. 263

Premeditated or ambush murder is 'assassinat' (arts. 255-257). The Algerian Code's penalty for it is death.

• Aggravated homicide (Prisión or reclusión)

  Least

  No minimum term set by the statute

  Most

  Reclusión perpetua or prisión perpetua (life)

  The article also says that art. 52 may be applied.

  Código Penal (Argentina), art. 80

Art. 80 punishes with life anyone who kills a relative or a current or former partner; with cruelty, treachery or poison; for a price or promise of reward; for pleasure, greed or hatred on grounds such as race, religion, gender or sexual orientation; by a means that creates a common danger; with the premeditated participation of two or more persons; to prepare, commit or conceal another crime; a member of the security forces because of their role; or a woman, by a man, in a context of gender violence; among others.

• Mord (murder: killing another person) (Straftat (Freiheitsstrafe))

  Least

  10 years (up to 20 years if a fixed term is chosen)

  Most

  Life imprisonment (lebenslange Freiheitsstrafe)

  Strafgesetzbuch (Austria), § 75

Austria has one offence of murder (Mord): killing another person. A killing under an understandably violent emotion is the separate, lighter offence of Totschlag (see the next row).

• Homicídio qualificado (qualified homicide) (Reclusão (the more serious kind of prison))

  Least

  12 years

  Most

  30 years

  Código Penal (Brazil), art. 121 §2

• Feminicídio (killing a woman for reasons of her sex, such as domestic violence or contempt for women) (Reclusão (the more serious kind of prison))

  Least

  20 years

  Most

  40 years

  Código Penal (Brazil), art. 121-A

Brazil's 'homicídio qualificado' is the closest to first-degree murder: a killing for payment or a vile motive, for a trivial motive, with poison, fire, torture or another cruel or dangerous means, by treachery or ambush, or to secure another crime. Whatever the sentence, no more than 40 years is served (art. 75).

• Aggravated murder (квалифицирано убийство) (Offence (лишаване от свобода))

  Least

  15 years

  Most

  Life imprisonment (доживотен затвор), or life without substitution (доживотен затвор без замяна)

  Criminal Code of Bulgaria (Наказателен кодекс), art. 116(1)

• Murder of a judge, prosecutor, investigator, police officer or other listed official on duty (Offence (лишаване от свобода))

  Least

  20 years

  Most

  Life imprisonment (доживотен затвор), or life without substitution (доживотен затвор без замяна)

  Criminal Code of Bulgaria (Наказателен кодекс), art. 116(2)

Aggravated murder (art. 116) covers, among others, a killing of an official or a member of the public on duty, of a parent or child, of a pregnant woman, a child or more than one person, of a helpless person, by means dangerous to many or with particular cruelty, in the context of domestic violence, for gain, or to commit or conceal another crime. Killing a judge, prosecutor, investigator, police officer and certain other officials on duty carries 20 to 30 years, life, or life without substitution (art. 116(2)).

• First degree murder (Indictable offence)

  Least

  Imprisonment for life, with no parole eligibility until 25 years have been served (s. 745(a))

  Most

  Imprisonment for life

  The life sentence is mandatory (s. 235(2) treats it as a minimum punishment).

  Criminal Code (Canada), s. 235(1)

First degree murder is murder that is planned and deliberate, or that falls in the other categories of s. 231 (for example, the murder of a police officer or a killing during certain serious crimes). Both degrees of murder carry a mandatory life sentence.

• Intentional homicide (故意杀人罪) (Crime (fixed-term imprisonment))

  Least

  10 years (if a fixed term is chosen)

  Most

  Death, or life imprisonment, or fixed-term imprisonment of 15 years (the longest fixed term, art. 45)

  Criminal Law of the PRC, art. 232

China has one crime of intentional homicide (故意杀人罪). The ordinary penalty is the band below. Death is available, including with a two-year suspension.

• Aggravated murder (teško ubojstvo) (Offence (kazna zatvora))

  Least

  10 years (the alternative is long-term imprisonment)

  Most

  Long-term imprisonment (dugotrajni zatvor), 21 to 40 years (art. 46)

  Criminal Code of Croatia (Kazneni zakon), art. 111

Aggravated murder (teško ubojstvo, art. 111) includes killing in a cruel or insidious way, killing a person who is especially vulnerable because of age, serious physical or mental disability or pregnancy, killing a close person, and other listed forms.

• Murder with deliberation or after prior consideration (Offence (imprisonment))

  Least

  12 years

  Most

  20 years

  Criminal Code of Czechia (trestní zákoník), s. 140(2)

• Murder in one of the aggravated forms (Offence (imprisonment))

  Least

  15 years

  Most

  Life imprisonment (exceptional sentence)

  The exceptional sentence is imprisonment of more than 20 and up to 30 years, or life (s. 54).

  Criminal Code of Czechia (trestní zákoník), s. 140(3)

Aggravated murder (s. 140(3)) covers a killing of two or more people, a pregnant woman, a child under 15, an official on duty, a witness, expert or interpreter, a health worker on duty, a person killed for their race, ethnic origin, sex or similar reasons, among others. The exceptional sentence is more than 20 and up to 30 years, or life (s. 54).

• Murder (common law) (Indictable offence (Crown Court))

  Least

  Life, with a minimum term set by the court

  Most

  Life imprisonment (mandatory), with a minimum term of 15 years as the starting point; 25 years where a weapon was taken to the scene; 30 years in particularly serious cases; or a whole life order

  The court may move the starting point up or down for aggravating and mitigating factors. The offender's age and a guilty plea can also affect the minimum term.

  Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act 1965, s.1; Sentencing Act 2020, s.321 and Sch. 21

England and Wales has one offence of murder, with no degrees. The court sets how long the offender must serve before release can be considered.

• Murder (murha) (Offence)

  Least

  Imprisonment for life

  Most

  Imprisonment for life

  Criminal Code of Finland (Rikoslaki), ch. 21, s. 2

Murder (murha, ch. 21, s. 2) is a homicide committed with deliberation, in an especially brutal or cruel way, causing serious general danger, or by killing an official while they were maintaining order or security or because of their official duty, and the offence is also aggravated when assessed as a whole.

• Meurtre aggravé (murder of a child under 15, a parent, a vulnerable person, a police officer or magistrate, and other listed victims) (Crime (réclusion criminelle))

  Least

  No minimum term set by the statute

  Most

  Life imprisonment (réclusion criminelle à perpétuité)

  Code pénal, art. 221-4

• Meurtre accompanying or following another crime, or committed to prepare a délit or to escape justice (Crime (réclusion criminelle))

  Least

  No minimum term set by the statute

  Most

  Life imprisonment (réclusion criminelle à perpétuité)

  A safety period applies automatically (art. 132-23): no early release for 18 years, which the court can raise to 22 and, in listed cases, to 30 years or to no early release at all.

  Code pénal, art. 221-2

• Assassinat (murder with premeditation or by ambush) (Crime (réclusion criminelle))

  Least

  No minimum term set by the statute

  Most

  Life imprisonment (réclusion criminelle à perpétuité)

  A safety period applies automatically (art. 132-23): no early release for 18 years, which the court can raise to 22 and, in listed cases, to 30 years or to no early release at all. Where the victim is a child under 15 and the murder is preceded by rape or torture, or the victim is a magistrate, police officer or similar, the court may by special decision raise the safety period to 30 years, or order no early release at all.

  Code pénal, art. 221-3

France has no 'degrees' of murder as the US has. A killing planned in advance, or by ambush, is 'assassinat'. The offences below are the closest to first-degree murder.

• Mord (murder under specific aggravating circumstances) (Verbrechen (serious offence: minimum term of one year or more))

  Least

  No minimum term set by the statute

  Most

  Imprisonment for life

  German Criminal Code (StGB), section 211

Germany has one murder offence (Mord), defined by listed motives or methods: lust to kill, sexual gratification, greed or other base motives, treachery, cruelty, a means that endangers the public, or to facilitate or cover up another offence. A killing without these is Totschlag (see second-degree murder below). Life is the only penalty for murder.

• Aggravated killing (emberölés, aggravated) (Offence (deprivation of liberty))

  Least

  10 years

  Most

  Life imprisonment

  Criminal Code of Hungary (Btk.), s. 160(2)

The aggravated killing (s. 160(2)) covers a killing committed with premeditation, for gain, from a base motive or purpose, with particular cruelty, against an official or a public official on duty, against more than one person, while endangering the lives of several, by a particularly dangerous repeat offender, among other listed circumstances.

• Killing (manndráp) (Offence (fangelsi))

  Least

  5 years (the alternative is life)

  Most

  Life imprisonment

  General Penal Code of Iceland (Almenn hegningarlög), art. 211

Iceland has one offence of killing (art. 211): anyone who deprives another of life is sentenced to imprisonment for at least five years, or for life.

• Murder (Offence (imprisonment of either description))

  Least

  No minimum term set by the statute

  Most

  Death, or imprisonment for life

  Fine

  A fine may also be imposed

  Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, s. 103(1)

• Murder by a group of five or more persons acting in concert on grounds of race, caste, community, sex, place of birth, language, belief or similar (Offence (imprisonment of either description))

  Least

  No minimum term set by the statute

  Most

  Death, or imprisonment for life

  Fine

  A fine may also be imposed

  Every member of the group is punished.

  Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, s. 103(2)

• Murder by a person already under a sentence of imprisonment for life (Offence (imprisonment of either description))

  Least

  No minimum term set by the statute

  Most

  Death, or imprisonment for life meaning the remainder of the person's natural life

  Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, s. 104

India has one offence of murder. The Sanhita defines it in s. 101, and s. 103 sets the same penalty for every murder: death or life imprisonment, with a fine.

• Murder (Offence)

  Least

  Imprisonment for life (mandatory)

  Most

  Imprisonment for life

  Criminal Justice Act 1990, s. 2

• Murder of a garda or prison officer on duty, or other listed murder (Offence)

  Least

  A minimum period of 40 years

  Most

  Imprisonment for life

  Criminal Justice Act 1990, ss. 3 and 4

Ireland has one offence of murder. A person convicted of murder is sentenced to imprisonment for life (Criminal Justice Act 1990, s. 2). For the murder of a member of the Garda Síochána or a prison officer in the course of duty, and for certain other listed murders, the court must specify a minimum period of not less than 40 years (s. 3, s. 4). A child or young person is not subject to that rule.

• Omicidio with premeditation, poison or an insidious means, or against an ascendant, descendant or spouse and others (Delitto (reclusione))

  Least

  No minimum term set by the statute

  Most

  Life imprisonment (ergastolo)

  A penalty of 24 to 30 years' reclusione applies in some of the listed cases, such as a killing of a divorced spouse.

  Codice penale (Italy), art. 577

• Omicidio with the aggravating circumstances of art. 576 (such as to hide another crime, by a fugitive, or with torture) (Delitto (reclusione))

  Least

  No minimum term set by the statute

  Most

  Life imprisonment (ergastolo)

  Codice penale (Italy), art. 576

Italy has one murder offence (omicidio, art. 575) and then lists circumstances that lead to life imprisonment: premeditation, poison or another insidious means, a victim who is a family member or partner, torture or cruelty, committing it to hide another crime, and others.

• Murder (killing a person) (Crime (detention, 拘禁刑))

  Least

  5 years (if a fixed term is chosen)

  Most

  Death, or life imprisonment, or a fixed term of 20 years

  Penal Code (Japan), art. 199

Japan has one murder offence (殺人, art. 199) with no degrees. The same article is shown for second-degree murder below. The court chooses among death, life and a fixed term of at least 5 years.

• Murder in aggravating circumstances (slepkavība pastiprinošos apstākļos) (Offence (brīvības atņemšana))

  Least

  10 years (the alternative is life)

  Most

  Life imprisonment (mūža ieslodzījums)

  Criminal Law of Latvia (Krimināllikums), s. 117

• Murder in especially aggravating circumstances (slepkavība sevišķi pastiprinošos apstākļos) (Offence (brīvības atņemšana))

  Least

  15 years (the alternative is life)

  Most

  Life imprisonment (mūža ieslodzījums)

  Criminal Law of Latvia (Krimināllikums), s. 118

Murder in aggravating circumstances (s. 117) includes killing a woman known to be pregnant, a helpless person, with danger to the lives of several people, with particular cruelty, in connection with robbery or rape, in order to conceal or facilitate another crime, for gain, by a group, and the killing of a minor, among others. Murder in especially aggravating circumstances (s. 118) includes killing because the victim or a relative performed official or professional duties or testified, killing two or more persons, killing by a person serving a life sentence, and killing by an organised group.

• Meurtre accompanying or following another crime, or committed to prepare or help a crime or délit or to escape (Crime (réclusion))

  Least

  No minimum term set by the statute

  Most

  Death

  Penal Code of Morocco, art. 392

• Assassinat (murder with premeditation or by ambush) (Crime (réclusion))

  Least

  No minimum term set by the statute

  Most

  Death

  Penal Code of Morocco, art. 393

'Assassinat', murder with premeditation or by ambush (arts. 393-395), is punished by death. The court may reduce it to life or to 20 to 30 years where there are mitigating circumstances (art. 147).

• Doodslag together with another offence, to prepare it, to ease it or to escape (art. 288) (Misdrijf (crime))

  Least

  No minimum term set by the statute

  Most

  Life imprisonment, or up to 30 years

  Wetboek van Strafrecht (Netherlands), art. 288

• Moord (intentional killing with premeditation) (Misdrijf (crime))

  Least

  No minimum term set by the statute

  Most

  Life imprisonment, or up to 30 years

  Wetboek van Strafrecht (Netherlands), art. 289

'Moord' (murder) is a killing with premeditation. A killing together with another crime, to prepare or hide it, carries the same maximum (art. 288).

• Murder (Offence)

  Least

  A minimum period of 10 years (unless a life sentence would be manifestly unjust)

  Most

  Imprisonment for life

  The text of s. 103(2A) was read only in part: it lets a court that finds no minimum term sufficient order the life sentence to be served without parole.

  Crimes Act 1961, s. 172; Sentencing Act 2002, ss. 102 and 103

New Zealand has a single offence of murder. The Crimes Act says a person who commits murder is liable to imprisonment for life (s. 172), and the Sentencing Act presumes life unless it would be manifestly unjust (s. 102). The minimum period before parole eligibility must be at least 10 years (s. 103(2)), and a court that is satisfied no minimum period would be sufficient may order that the sentence be served without parole (s. 103(2A)).

• Killing (drap) (Offence)

  Least

  8 years

  Most

  21 years

  Penal Code of Norway (straffeloven), s. 275

Norway has a single general offence of killing (s. 275). There is no life sentence. A person convicted of killing may also be sentenced to preventive detention (not read).

• Aggravated homicide (homicídio qualificado) (Offence (pena de prisão))

  Least

  12 years

  Most

  25 years

  Código Penal (Portugal), art. 132(1)

Aggravated homicide (art. 132) is a killing in circumstances that show special reprehensibility or perversity. The Code lists, among others, a killing of a descendant or ascendant, of a spouse or partner, of a particularly defenceless person, with torture or cruelty, and for greed.

• Aggravated murder (killing two or more people, with special cruelty, for gain or by hire, to conceal another crime, and other listed cases) (Especially grave crime)

  Least

  8 years

  Most

  20 years' imprisonment, life imprisonment, or death (not imposed in practice)

  The term may come with restriction of freedom for 1 to 2 years afterwards. Life imprisonment is not given to women, to people under 18 at the time of the crime, or to men over 65.

  Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, Art. 105(2)

Russia has no 'degrees' of murder. Aggravated murder (Art. 105, part 2) is the closest to first-degree murder. It covers killing two or more people, killing with special cruelty, for hire or gain, in a way dangerous to many people, to hide another crime, and other listed cases.

• Murder (Offence)

  Least

  5 years (the alternatives are death or life imprisonment)

  Most

  Death

  The punishments are death, imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for a term of at least five years.

  Criminal Act (South Korea), Art. 250(1)

• Murder of the offender's own or the spouse's lineal ascendant (Offence)

  Least

  7 years (the alternatives are death or life imprisonment)

  Most

  Death

  The punishments are death, imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for a term of at least seven years.

  Criminal Act (South Korea), Art. 250(2)

South Korea has no degrees of murder. Art. 250 is the only general murder offence.

• Asesinato (murder with treachery, for reward, with cruelty, or to facilitate or hide another crime) (Pena grave (prison of more than 5 years))

  Least

  15 years

  Most

  25 years

  Código Penal (Spain), art. 139(1)

• Asesinato with more than one of those circumstances (Pena grave (prison of more than 5 years))

  Least

  The upper half of 15 to 25 years

  Most

  25 years (the upper half of the range, so 20 years or more)

  Código Penal (Spain), art. 139(2)

• Asesinato of a child under 16 or a particularly vulnerable person, after a sexual crime against the victim, by a member of a criminal group, or of more than two victims (Prisión permanente revisable (reviewable permanent imprisonment))

  Least

  No minimum term set by the statute

  Most

  Reviewable permanent imprisonment

  The court can suspend it only after at least 25 years in prison (art. 92); longer in some cases.

  Código Penal (Spain), art. 140

Spain has no 'degrees' of murder. 'Asesinato' is the closest to first-degree murder: a killing with treachery, for a price or reward, with cruelty, or to facilitate or hide another crime.

• Mord (murder) (Brott (fängelse))

  Least

  10 years (a fixed term of 10 to 18 years)

  Most

  Life imprisonment (livstid)

  Brottsbalken (Sweden), 3 kap. 1 §

Sweden's mord is intentionally taking another person's life. Life imprisonment is considered in particular if the act was preceded by careful planning, showed special cunning, was meant to further or hide other crime, caused severe suffering, or was otherwise especially ruthless.

• Mord (murder: an especially unscrupulous killing) (Verbrechen (felony: more than 3 years))

  Least

  10 years (up to 20 years if a fixed term is chosen)

  Most

  Life imprisonment (lebenslängliche Freiheitsstrafe)

  Swiss Criminal Code (StGB), art. 112

Mord is a killing by an especially unscrupulous offender: the motive, the purpose or the manner of execution is especially reprehensible.

• Killing (殺人) (Offence)

  Least

  10 years (the alternatives are death or life imprisonment)

  Most

  Death

  Criminal Code of Taiwan, art. 271(1)

• Killing a child under seven by means of cruelty (Offence)

  Least

  Life imprisonment (the alternative is death)

  Most

  Death

  Criminal Code of Taiwan, art. 272-1(2)

Art. 271(1) is the only general murder offence. It is punishable by death, life imprisonment or limited imprisonment of at least 10 years. Where the victim is a child under seven and the killing is carried out with cruelty, the punishment is death or life (art. 272-1).

• Nitelikli kasten öldürme (aggravated intentional killing) (Crime (hapis, prison))

  Least

  No minimum term set by the statute

  Most

  Aggravated life imprisonment (ağırlaştırılmış müebbet hapis)

  In some cases the court may impose a lower penalty. An attempt is punished with 14 to 21 years.

  Turkish Penal Code (Law 5237), art. 82

Turkey divides intentional killing into the basic offence (art. 81) and the aggravated forms (art. 82). Art. 82 lists premeditation, savage motives or torture, killing by fire, flood or explosion, a killing of a parent or a spouse, of a child or a defenceless person, of a woman, of a public official because of the duty, to hide another crime, from blood feud or 'honour' custom, and others.