How is aggravated assault by a life prisoner classified?

Aggravated assault by a life prisoner is classified as murder in the second degree primarily due to the severity of the crime and the status of the perpetrator. Laws often designate higher penalties for individuals who commit additional violent acts while serving a life sentence, reflecting a zero-tolerance approach to violence among inmates.

Murder in the second degree typically involves intentional acts that cause serious bodily harm or depict a disregard for human life, which is in line with the nature of aggravated assault. This classification serves to reinforce the seriousness of continuing criminal behavior for individuals who are already incarcerated for life, as it demonstrates a sustained pattern of violence or threat to others, even while serving punishment.

The other classifications, such as first-degree murder, are applied to premeditated killings, while the "M-1" and "M-2" options often refer to municipal codes or different degrees of misdemeanors, which do not adequately convey the gravity of an assault by a life prisoner. This context helps to underscore the rationale behind classifying aggravated assault by a life prisoner specifically as murder in the second degree.