2026 Regular Session
Link to Bill History on Legacy Website (Click Here)Summary: Increasing penalty for voluntary manslaughter
PDF: sb140 intr.pdf
DOCX: SB140 INTR.docx
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2026 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
Senate Bill 140
By Senator Deeds
[Introduced January 14, 2026; referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary]
A BILL to amend and reenact §61-2-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to increasing the penalty for voluntary manslaughter.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
ARTICLE 2. Crimes against the person.
§61-2-4. Voluntary manslaughter; penalty.
Voluntary manslaughter shall be punished by a definite term of imprisonment in the penitentiary which is not less than three five nor more than fifteen 25 years. A person imprisoned pursuant to the provisions of this section is not eligible for parole prior to having served a minimum of three five years of his or her sentence or the minimum period required by the provisions of §62-12-13, whichever is greater.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to increase the penalty for voluntary manslaughter.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.