ASIS International (ASIS) Professional Certified Investigator Practice Exam

Which crime relates to negligence leading to someone's death?

1. Capital murder

2. First-degree murder

3. Manslaughter

4. Criminally negligent homicide

The correct answer is: Criminally negligent homicide

Criminally negligent homicide directly addresses the concept of negligence resulting in someone's death. This type of crime occurs when an individual’s failure to be aware of a substantial and unjustifiable risk leads to the death of another person. In this scenario, the perpetrator's actions—or lack thereof—demonstrate a gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would exercise in the same situation. It highlights the aspect of negligence rather than intentional or premeditated actions that characterize other forms of homicide. Manslaughter and other forms of homicide have different legal definitions and implications, often involving varying degrees of intent or recklessness. For instance, manslaughter typically encompasses situations where there is a lesser degree of culpability than murder, but it may not always focus solely on negligence as the root cause. Capital murder and first-degree murder, on the other hand, involve premeditated intent to kill, which distinguishes them from the purely negligent actions that characterize criminally negligent homicide. Thus, the emphasis on negligence clearly aligns with the definition of criminally negligent homicide.