A person recklessly causes the death of an individual. According to the Penal Code, the person has committed the offense of?

The correct answer is manslaughter, which is defined as an offense where a person recklessly causes the death of another individual. In legal terms, recklessness implies that the person disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that their actions could lead to someone else's death. This distinction is essential because it differentiates manslaughter from murder, where the intent to kill or cause serious harm is present.

Manslaughter typically involves a lack of intent to kill, distinguishing it from other forms of homicide. In this case, the act was not performed with intent to kill or under circumstances that would constitute second-degree murder, but rather with a reckless disregard for human life, qualifying the act as manslaughter. Understanding this nuance in the law helps clarifies why the other options do not apply: second-degree murder requires intent or implied malice, while involuntary manslaughter would typically involve criminal negligence rather than recklessness.