ATTORNEY ON CALL · 24/7
212 300 5196
FROM THE DEFENSE DESK / NEW YORK PENAL LAW
6 MAR 2026 · 1 MIN READ · BY TODD A. SPODEK
THE BRIEF · FILED UNDER: NEW YORK PENAL LAW · VIOLENT CRIMES
DOCKET NO. 071 · THE DEFENSE DESK

New York Penal Law 125.11: Aggravated criminally negligent homicide.

Learn about aggravated criminally negligent homicide under New York Penal Law 125.11, including definitions, examples, key differences from other homicide charges, possible legal defenses, and sentencing. Find out how causing the death of a police officer during a negligent act can lead to severe penalties in New York.

★★★★★1,100+ FIVE-STAR GOOGLE REVIEWS
SUPER LAWYERS · 2020-25AVVO · “SUPERB”SECOND GENERATION · SINCE 1976
AS SEEN ON NETFLIX · CNN · FOX NEWS · NY POST

The crime of homicide normally involves intentionally taking the life of another human being. However, in the state of New York, if you unintentionally take the life of a police or peace officer during a negligent act, you can be charged with Aggravated Criminally Negligent Homicide. If the officers were in the act of performing their duties, and you caused an officer's death during a reckless act, you could face a homicide charge under New York penal code 125.11. Criminal negligence is when you fail to recognize that the risk of your actions could result in the death of another person.

Aggravated Criminally Negligent Homicide Example

If you are driving down a busy interstate and texting at the same time, and you suddenly have to avoid two oncoming cars and veer off to the side of the road and hit and kill a police officer while that officer stopped another car, you could be subject to the charge of aggravated criminally negligent homicide.

Criminally Negligent Homicide vs. Aggravated Criminally Negligent Homicide

LEGAL INFORMATION, NOT LEGAL ADVICE · STATUTES CHANGE - VERIFY CURRENT LAW · ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
THE AUTHOR'S RECORD · PRIOR RESULTS DO NOT GUARANTEE A SIMILAR OUTCOME
Acquitted.
$26M MONEY LAUNDERING
Dismissed.
RICO · 10-YEAR MINIMUM FACED
Six months.
$12M PONZI · YEARS ASKED
ALL RESULTS →
★★★★★VERIFIED CLIENT · FEDERAL CASE · 2022 · VIA GOOGLE REVIEWS
"By the time our free consultation was over, we left at ease."
1,100+ FIVE-STAR GOOGLE REVIEWS →
RISK FREE · CONFIDENTIAL · 24/7

Reading is good. Calling is better.

Answered within 24 hours, guaranteed. Some stories are better told out loud -

212 300 5196
AFTER YOU REACH OUT
01A person answers - not a service. Day or night. 02Free, confidential consultation - ask us anything, regardless of how long it takes. 03Strategy starts the same day - and you hold the senior partner's cell number.
★★★★★1,100+ FIVE-STAR GOOGLE REVIEWS
READ THEM →
INTAKE · PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL
24/7
01
02
03
04
05
ANSWERED WITHIN 24 HOURS, GUARANTEED OR CALL 212 300 5196
EVERYTHING YOU SHARE IS PROTECTED BY ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE FROM THE FIRST WORD.