Intentional killings are killings which contain the highest degree of criminality. Criminal justice officials consider every intentional killing to be a felony. Intentional killings contain a high degree of premeditation. Criminal justice systems consider all intentional killings which contain elements of criminality to be murder.
Murder has the highest degrees of criminality, although depending on the amount of criminality revealed during the investigation, different charges may be filed. The finding of an intentional killing is the essential element of any murder charge, including but not limited to first, second, or third degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, and vehicular homicide.
Non-criminal intentional killings also exist. An intentional killing enacted by an individual carrying out a criminal justice proceeding, such as a person who imposes a State-ordered death penalty or a law enforcement official forced to kill a person resisting arrest, is considered a non-criminal intentional killing.
Other instances of intentional killings which are not considered violations of criminal justice laws include instances of self-defense, defense of property, and intentional killings in defense of another. The fact that these intentional killings lack the standard criminality associated with homicide are considered exceptions to normal criminal justice laws.
