Other crimes, such as arson and kidnapping, carry severe penalties that are augmented when they jeopardize human life and even more severe penalties when a death results. For example, arson carries a federal penalty of five years' imprisonment, but an arson that places a life in jeopardy is punishable by 20 years' imprisonment. See 18 U.S.C. 81. Similarly, the penalties for assaults are increased from three years to 10 years imprisonment when the assault is committed by the use of a deadly or dangerous weapon. The punishment for certain serious drug offenses also is enhanced when the offender uses a firearm.
Every state also criminalizes deliberate acts that result in death or serious threat to life.
However, offenses may vary in detail from state to state. At present, the statutes of 37 states provide the death penalty for murder and, in a few of these states, for other offenses, almost all for offenses resulting in death. Official Use of Force. The protection of the right to life is also implicated in statutes regulating the official use of force. Prison guards, sheriffs, police, and other state officials who abuse their power through excessive use of force may be punished under 18 U.S.C. 241 and 242, discussed under Article 2.