The penalties for murder and manslaughter in Canada are severe. A conviction for first-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole for 25 years. Second-degree murder also carries a life sentence, but parole eligibility can be granted after 10 to 25 years. Manslaughter convictions have more variable sentences, depending on the circumstances, ranging from probation and shorter prison terms to life imprisonment in the most severe cases, especially if a firearm was involved.