parricide

Parricide is the deliberate killing of one's own parent. It is an umbrella term that can be used to refer to acts of matricide, the deliberate killing of one's own mother, and patricide, the deliberate killing of one's own father.

Societies consider parricide a serious crime and parricide offenders are subject to criminal prosecution under the homicide laws which are established in places (i.e., countries, states etc.) in which parricides occur. In most countries, an adult who is convicted of parricide faces a long-term prison sentence, a permanent prison sentence, or even a death sentence. Youthful parricide offenders who are younger than the age of majority (e.g., 18-year-olds in the United States & United Kingdom of Great Britain) may be prosecuted under less stringent laws which are designed to take their special needs and development into account, but these laws are usually waived and as a result, most youthful parricide offenders are transferred into the Adult Judicial System.