Intoxication Manslaughter is a crime defined as causing the death of another by accident or mistake while the offender was intoxicated. It is classified as which degree?

• A. Felony 1
• B. Felony 3
• C. Class B Misdemeanor
• D. Felony 2

Answer: (D)

Crimes are categorized by degree, and that degree determines how serious the punishment will be. Intoxication manslaughter, defined as causing the death of another by accident or mistake while the offender was intoxicated, is classified as a second-degree felony. That means it’s a felony, not a misdemeanor, and it sits in the middle of the felony scale: more serious than many misdemeanors but less serious than the top-tier felonies. The typical punishment range for a second-degree felony is about 2 to 20 years in state prison, with fines up to $10,000. So this offense fits squarely as a second-degree felony rather than a Class B misdemeanor or a higher or lower felony.