aggravating circumstances
Sentence-enhancing considerations
Aggravating circumstances are factors that make a crime more serious, justifying harsher punishment.
A robbery becomes aggravated if the perpetrator uses a weapon or targets a vulnerable victim.
Courts weigh these against mitigating circumstances when determining sentences: The presence of aggravating circumstances led to the maximum penalty.
- premeditationAdvance planning of action
- cold bloodDeliberate, unfeeling manner
- first degreeInitial academic credential
- intentPlanned purpose
- motiveReason for action
severity · malice · felony · prior convictions · criminal record · harm · violence · capital punishment · death penalty · life sentence · mens rea · proportionality · criminality · sentencing guidelines · brutality · retributive justice · criminal liability · culpability
aggravating circumstancesmitigating circumstances
Conditions lessening apparent guilt
mitigating factors · extenuating circumstances · diminished capacity · justification · excuse
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