Manslaughter is the unlawful killing or homicide of a human being without the premeditation or malice (malice aforethought) required for the criminal offense of murder. Many states have two types of manslaughter: (1) voluntary manslaughter—the defendant intended to kill the victim, but did so in self-defense, or in the heat of passion and without premeditation, or the defendant was insane and did not understand that the killing was wrong; and (2) involuntary manslaughter—the defendant negligently or recklessly caused the death of another person—such as when a person is intoxicated while operating a motor vehicle and causes an accident that results in the death of another person.

Some states do not have separate criminal offenses for voluntary and involuntary manslaughter—these states may have the offense of manslaughter and identify certain aggravating factors that may enhance the penalties upon a conviction for manslaughter. Manslaughter is a felony offense and may be punished by a lengthy prison term. Manslaughter laws are generally located in a state's statutes—often in the penal or criminal code.

In Arkansas, manslaughter is defined under Arkansas Code Annotated § 5-10-104 as causing the death of another person under circumstances that would be murder, except that it is committed under the influence of extreme emotional disturbance for which there is reasonable excuse. This definition encompasses what is commonly known as voluntary manslaughter, where there is an intentional killing without premeditation, often in the heat of passion. Arkansas law does not explicitly define involuntary manslaughter; however, negligent homicide, under Arkansas Code Annotated § 5-10-105, addresses situations where a person negligently causes the death of another, which can include cases where a person is intoxicated and causes a fatal accident. Manslaughter in Arkansas is a Class C felony, which can result in a prison term, fines, or both. The specific penalties can vary based on the circumstances of the case and the presence of any aggravating factors.