New Jersey Statutes
N.J. Stat. § 2C:11-4 (2026)
Manslaughter
✓ current as of May 2026
2C:11-4. Manslaughter. a. Criminal homicide constitutes aggravated manslaughter when:
(1) The actor recklessly causes death under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life; or
(2) The actor causes the death of another person while fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer in violation of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:29-2. Notwithstanding the provision of any other law to the contrary, the actor shall be strictly liable for a violation of this paragraph upon proof of a violation of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:29-2 which resulted in the death of another person. As used in this paragraph, "actor" shall not include a passenger in a motor vehicle.
b. Criminal homicide constitutes manslaughter when:
(1) It is committed recklessly; or
(2) A homicide which would otherwise be murder under N.J.S.2C:11-3 is committed in the heat of passion resulting from a reasonable provocation.
The discovery of, knowledge about, or potential disclosure of the homicide victim's actual or perceived gender identity or expression, or affectional or sexual orientation, which occurred under any circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances in which the victim made an unwanted, non-forcible romantic or sexual advance toward the actor, or if the victim and actor dated or had a romantic or sexual relationship, shall not be reasonable provocation pursuant to this paragraph. As used herein, the terms "gender identity or expression" and "affectional or sexual orientation" shall have the same meaning as in section 5 of P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-5).
c. Aggravated manslaughter under paragraph (1) of subsection a. of this section is a crime of the first degree and upon conviction thereof a person may, notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:43-6, be sentenced to an ordinary term of imprisonment between 10 and 30 years. Aggravated manslaughter under paragraph (2) of subsection a. of this section is a crime of the first degree. Manslaughter is a crime of the second degree.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 456
cases (234 in the last 5 years), 1985–2026 · leading case: State v. Crisantos (Arriagas), 508 A.2d 167 (N.J. 1986).
State v. Crisantos (Arriagas), 508 A.2d 167 (N.J. 1986). “3 and "substantially enlarged" the class of murders eligible for mitigation to manslaughter although even under the enlarged category, it is unclear whether felony murder could have been reduced to manslaughter.”
State v. Terrell Hubbard (073539), 118 A.3d 314 (N.J. 2015). “Defendant was subsequently indicted for second- degree manslaughter contrary to N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4(b)(1), and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, contrary to N.”
State v. Grunow, 506 A.2d 708 (N.J. 1986). “178, § 2C:11-4(a). 3 *140 However, the argument that it was merely a legislative oversight that passion/provocation is not explicitly available to mitigate aggravated manslaughter under the new Code may not fully reflect the accompanying changes that the Legislature ■made in…”
United States v. Castillo, 896 F.3d 141 (2d Cir. 2018). “120 ; N.J. Stat. § 2C:11-4. E.g. , Del. Code tit.”
State v. Gerald, 549 A.2d 792 (N.J. 1988). “Accordingly, in the consensus amendments of 1979, section 2C:11-4 was amended to divide manslaughter into two categories, aggravated manslaughter and reckless manslaughter, depending on the presence of circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life.”
State v. Twiggs, 187 A.3d 123 (N.J. 2018). “A 2C:11-3 (murder); N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4 (manslaughter); and N.J.”
State v. Concepcion, 545 A.2d 119 (N.J. 1988). “It is appropriate to repeat the entire text of the reckless manslaughter component of the charge: Now, the defendant is charged in the indictment that on the 15th day of November, 1984 in the City of Newark, in the County of Essex aforesaid and within the jurisdiction of this…”
State v. Wint, 198 A.3d 963 (N.J. 2018). “The jury acquitted Wint of murder but found him guilty of the lesser-included offense of passion/provocation manslaughter, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4(b)(2), and the other charged offenses.”
State v. Locane, 184 A.3d 495 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2018). “39:4-50... shall give rise to an inference that the defendant was driving recklessly.”
State v. Hess, 23 A.3d 373 (N.J. 2011). “2C:11-3[,] to charge Aggravated Manslaughter, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4[ (]a[)]. As to sentencing, [defendant] must acknowledge the applicability of NERA .”
United States v. Troy Brasby, 61 F.4th 127 (3rd Cir. 2023). “§ 2C:11-4(b)(1)) and aggravated manslaughter for “recklessly caus[ing] death under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life” (under N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:11-4(a)(1)) “turns on the degree of probability that the death will result from the defendant’s conduct”…”
State of New Jersey v. Kason D. Hockett, 129 A.3d 1116 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2016). “At the conclusion of a five-day trial, defendant was acquitted of murder and the weapons offenses, but convicted of the lesser-included offense of second-degree reckless manslaughter, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4(b)(1), and sentenced to a nine- year prison term subject to an eighty-five…”
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:11-4(1) — 1 case
State of New Jersey v. Gary Johnson (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2026).
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:11-4(A)(1) — 1 case
State of New Jersey Vs. Otis L. Williams (15-10-2271 & 16-10-2966, Essex Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2018).
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:11-4(B)(1) — 1 case
Francois v. Green (D.N.J. 2019).
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:11-4(a) — 125 cases
State v. Grunow, 506 A.2d 708 (N.J. 1986). “178, § 2C:11-4(a). 3 *140 However, the argument that it was merely a legislative oversight that passion/provocation is not explicitly available to mitigate aggravated manslaughter under the new Code may not fully reflect the accompanying changes that the Legislature ■made in…”
State of New Jersey v. Martell J. Land, 88 A.3d 193 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2014).
State of New Jersey v. Marcus Perkins, 157 A.3d 471 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2017).
State v. Liepe, 180 A.3d 353 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2018).
State v. J.T., 188 A.3d 1058 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2018).
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:11-4(a)(1) — 206 cases
State v. Locane, 184 A.3d 495 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2018). “39:4-50... shall give rise to an inference that the defendant was driving recklessly.”
United States v. Troy Brasby, 61 F.4th 127 (3rd Cir. 2023). “§ 2C:11-4(b)(1)) and aggravated manslaughter for “recklessly caus[ing] death under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life” (under N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:11-4(a)(1)) “turns on the degree of probability that the death will result from the defendant’s conduct”…”
State v. Hummel, 179 A.3d 366 (N.J. 2018).
State of New Jersey v. Quaheem Johnson, 94 A.3d 337 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2014).
State v. Fowler, 182 A.3d 971 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2018).
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:11-4(a)(2) — 12 cases
State v. Grunow, 506 A.2d 708 (N.J. 1986). “178, § 2C:11-4(a). 3 *140 However, the argument that it was merely a legislative oversight that passion/provocation is not explicitly available to mitigate aggravated manslaughter under the new Code may not fully reflect the accompanying changes that the Legislature ■made in…”
State v. Grunow, 488 A.2d 1098 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1985).
State v. Pratt, 544 A.2d 392 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1988).
State v. McClain, 591 A.2d 652 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1991).
State of New Jersey Vs. Luis Hernandez(04-03-0323, Passaic Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2017).
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:11-4(a)(l) — 3 cases
State of New Jersey Vs. Colby Dessources (17-12-3564, Essex Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2021).
State of New Jersey Vs. Jerome Bearfield (18-08-2362, Essex Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2021).
State of New Jersey v. Jerome Bearfield (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2025).
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:11-4(b) — 10 cases
State v. Concepcion, 545 A.2d 119 (N.J. 1988). “It is appropriate to repeat the entire text of the reckless manslaughter component of the charge: Now, the defendant is charged in the indictment that on the 15th day of November, 1984 in the City of Newark, in the County of Essex aforesaid and within the jurisdiction of this…”
State of New Jersey Vs. Luis a. Maisonet (16-11-2635, Atl. Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019).
State of New Jersey Vs. Otis L. Williams (15-10-2271 & 16-10-2966, Essex Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2018).
State of New Jersey Vs. Shangzhen Huang (17-10-1138, Middlesex Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2018).
State of New Jersey Vs. Sean a. Roberts (16-05-1569, Essex Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019).
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:11-4(b)(1) — 64 cases
State v. Terrell Hubbard (073539), 118 A.3d 314 (N.J. 2015). “Defendant was subsequently indicted for second- degree manslaughter contrary to N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4(b)(1), and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, contrary to N.”
United States v. Castillo, 896 F.3d 141 (2d Cir. 2018). “120 ; N.J. Stat. § 2C:11-4. E.g. , Del. Code tit.”
State of New Jersey v. Kason D. Hockett, 129 A.3d 1116 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2016). “At the conclusion of a five-day trial, defendant was acquitted of murder and the weapons offenses, but convicted of the lesser-included offense of second-degree reckless manslaughter, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4(b)(1), and sentenced to a nine- year prison term subject to an eighty-five…”
United States v. Troy Brasby, 61 F.4th 127 (3rd Cir. 2023). “§ 2C:11-4(b)(1)) and aggravated manslaughter for “recklessly caus[ing] death under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life” (under N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:11-4(a)(1)) “turns on the degree of probability that the death will result from the defendant’s conduct”…”
State of New Jersey v. Larry R. Henderson, 77 A.3d 536 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2013).
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:11-4(b)(2) — 57 cases
State v. Crisantos (Arriagas), 508 A.2d 167 (N.J. 1986). “3 and "substantially enlarged" the class of murders eligible for mitigation to manslaughter although even under the enlarged category, it is unclear whether felony murder could have been reduced to manslaughter.”
State v. Wint, 198 A.3d 963 (N.J. 2018). “The jury acquitted Wint of murder but found him guilty of the lesser-included offense of passion/provocation manslaughter, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4(b)(2), and the other charged offenses.”
State of New Jersey v. Michael Owens (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2026).
State of New Jersey Vs. Donald B. Lindsey (10-09-2451, Camden Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2020).
State of New Jersey Vs. Rosendo S. Gomez-serpas (16-08-0548, Union Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2020).
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:11-4(b)(3) — 2 cases
State v. Pantusco, 750 A.2d 107 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2000).
Abraham v. Raso, 15 F. Supp. 2d 433 (D.N.J. 1998).
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:11-4(c) — 27 cases
Beckett v. Powell (D.N.J. 2022).
State of New Jersey Vs. Felix Rivera (17-05-0325, Union Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2020).
State of New Jersey Vs. Nathan Williams, III (15-02-0128, Hudson Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2021).
Gaskins v. The Attorney Gen. of the State of New Jersey (D.N.J. 2021).
State of New Jersey v. Michael Owens (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2026).
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:11-4(e) — 2 cases
State of New Jersey Vs. Tamasa T. Nobles (13-05-1391, Atl. Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2018).
State of New Jersey v. Tamasa T. Nobles (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2026).
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