What does second degree murder mean?
Second-degree murder is murder which is not pre-meditated in most states. For example, if you plot to kill someone and kill them, that would be first-degree murder. If you murder someone you weren’t planning on murdering (i.e. if you shoot your way out of a situation gone wrong and kill somebody) that might be second degree. Murdering a police officer is almost always considered first-degree murder, though… Degree of murder also determines sentencing. Usually, first degree murder can be punishable by death or life without parole. Second degree can be punished by life (with parole) or a sentence like 25 years to life, etc.
