Premeditated murder is a type of homicide where the perpetrator plans the killing in advance. This means that the individual has thought about and decided to commit the act before actually doing it. The planning can vary in detail, but the key element is that the murder was not impulsive or spontaneous. In legal terms, premeditated murder is often considered more serious than other forms of homicide, such as manslaughter, because it involves intent and deliberation. Penalties for premeditated murder can be severe, including long prison sentences or even the death penalty in some jurisdictions.