Voluntary Manslaughter is a form of homicide, which is the unlawful killing of another human being. It is distinguished from other types of homicide such as first-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. Voluntary Manslaughter is considered to be a less serious crime than murder and can result in a sentence of probation or a reduced prison sentence. There are two types of Voluntary Manslaughter: mitigating and non-mitigating. Mitigating Voluntary Manslaughter occurs when a defendant intentionally kills another person, but does so under circumstances that would have caused an average person to act in a similarly rash manner. Examples of mitigating circumstances may include sudden passion, provocation, or mental illness. Non-mitigating Voluntary Manslaughter occurs when a defendant intentionally kills another person, without any mitigating circumstances. This type of Voluntary Manslaughter carries a harsher penalty than mitigating Voluntary Manslaughter.