What characterizes involuntary manslaughter?

Involuntary manslaughter is characterized by criminal negligence, which occurs when a person's actions demonstrate a gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would exercise in a similar situation. Involuntary manslaughter does not involve the intent to kill or cause serious harm, distinguishing it from other forms of homicide.

Criminal negligence often manifests in situations where an individual's careless or reckless behavior results in the unintentional death of another person. For example, a driver who operates a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, leading to a fatal accident, may be found guilty of involuntary manslaughter due to their negligent actions.

The other options describe different levels of culpability or intent. Intentional harm indicates a purpose to inflict injury, which is not characteristic of involuntary manslaughter. Reckless endangerment may involve significant risk-taking, but it generally denotes a subjective awareness of the risk, whereas involuntary manslaughter focuses on the lack of such awareness in the context of negligence. Pre-meditated intent is a hallmark of murder, involving a deliberate decision to kill, which is not relevant to the concept of involuntary manslaughter.