Peter Blair | August 2, 2023 | Criminal Defense
Understanding aggravating factors in a criminal case is crucial because they can influence the outcome significantly. Aggravating factors in criminal cases are elements or circumstances that increase the severity or culpability of a criminal act. They’re considered by courts while deciding penalties, potentially leading toward harsher sentencing.
Common Examples of Aggravating Factors in California Criminal Cases
Aggravating factors play a crucial role in determining the severity of sentencing in criminal cases. Here are examples of circumstances that California courts could consider as “aggravating:”
Repeat Offenses
If you’ve been previously convicted of similar crimes, courts might see your criminal history as an indication of ongoing unlawful behavior, which can lead to harsher sentences.
Vulnerability of the Victim
Crimes committed against individuals who are particularly vulnerable due to age, disability, or other reasons often get treated more severely, reflected through more stringent penalties.
Hate Crimes
If your offense was a hate crime perpetrated based on discrimination against race, religion, sexual orientation, or similar characteristics of the victim, this is a major aggravating factor. Courts regard this very seriously.
Actions Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury
If your actions resulted in serious bodily injuries to the victims involved, you’ll likely receive a more severe penalty due to this aggravating factor.
For example, your sentence will differ if you caused only minimal harm versus if you physically assaulted somebody, continuing to hit them while they’re on the ground, leading them to need extensive medical care. In the latter case, your sentence will inevitably be harsher.
Taking Advantage of Trust or Confidence
If you are alleged to have exploited personal, professional, or any other form of trust to commit the offense, it’s considered an aggravating factor.
This could be relevant if you were in a position where people naturally placed their faith in you – such as being a teacher, coach, someone’s caregiver, or money manager.
Involvement of a Minor
Should your crime involve inducing a minor to partake in unlawful activities, expect this matter to significantly increase your sentence, as courts take child safety issues very seriously. They won’t look kindly upon adults who are seen as manipulating children into wrongdoing.
Sophisticated Planning Involved in the Crime
Carrying out an act with deliberate planning and professionalism – which denotes premeditation – will increase the seriousness of the offense in the court’s eyes.
Use of a Weapon
When the crime committed involves weapon usage (like guns or knives), courts view these cases negatively as it reflects an intent to seriously harm the victim. This, therefore, intensifies the charges you may face and amplifies potential penalties.
Committing a Crime While on Probation or Supervision
If you commit another crime while serving probation, mandatory supervision, post-release community supervision, or parole, the court will see it as clearly displaying disregard for legal obligations.
Prior Unsuccessful Supervision
If you’ve previously been on probation or parole and didn’t adhere to the conditions imposed by these supervisory programs, this information will often be deemed an aggravating factor. Judges view unfavorable performance in such situations negatively because it implies noncompliance with legal directives and a failure to reform while under monitoring.
Each legal scenario varies greatly, so seeking professional legal help is critical to ensure you receive the best defense possible.
What Are Mitigating Factors in a Criminal Case?
Mitigating factors in a criminal case refer to elements or circumstances that might lessen the severity of an offense, potentially leading toward reduced sentencing. Unlike aggravating factors which increase penalties, mitigating ones work conversely, showing offenders in a more favorable light, illustrating a reason for leniency or a reduction in punishment.
Here are some common examples:
Accepting Responsibility
Courts tend to look kindly upon individuals who show remorse and take responsibility for their actions, particularly if it’s early on in the legal process.
Mental Health Issues
If you were suffering from a mental health disorder at the time of the offense that could have influenced your actions significantly, this could be considered a mitigating factor.
Substance Abuse Problems
Another determining element can be an ongoing struggle with substance abuse which affected your behavior or judgment when committing the offense. If you’re willing to seek treatment, the court may be willing to look at this information and use it to reduce your sentence.
No Prior Criminal Record
If you haven’t had any previous run-ins with law enforcement, this can significantly help your case. The courts look at those without former convictions more leniently as they consider such individuals to be largely law-abiding citizens who may have made an uncharacteristic mistake.
Acting Under Duress
If another person forced or coerced you into committing the crime under threat of violence or severe harm, this can be viewed as a mitigating circumstance by courts.
Age
Your age at the time of the offense is also an influencing factor — both younger (such as in juvenile cases) and older people often receive more leniency compared to others.
This is not an exhaustive list. Your case’s specifics can significantly impact the court’s interpretation of these factors.
The Importance of Hiring a San Diego Criminal Defense Attorney To Handle Aggravating Factors
Hiring an experienced San Diego criminal defense lawyer is essential when facing aggravating factors in your criminal case. Your lawyer may be able to negotiate a plea deal to reduce penalties or present evidence that lessens the impact of the aggravating elements in your case. If you are unfairly sentenced, they can also help you with the appeals process.