Warning

Info

Warning

Info

Warning

Info

LSDefine

Simple English definitions for legal terms

aggravating circumstances

Read a random definition: equity of partners

A quick definition of aggravating circumstances:

Aggravating circumstances are things that make a crime worse. When someone does something bad, like hurting someone else or stealing, aggravating circumstances can make the punishment even more severe. Some examples of aggravating circumstances are when the crime was really terrible, the person who did it doesn't feel sorry, or they have done bad things before. The opposite of aggravating circumstances are called mitigating factors, which can make the punishment less severe.

A more thorough explanation:

Aggravating circumstances are factors that make a criminal act more severe or blameworthy. These factors can lead to a harsher punishment for the convicted criminal. Some examples of aggravating circumstances include:

  • The heinousness of the crime
  • Lack of remorse
  • Prior conviction of another crime

Aggravating circumstances vary by jurisdiction, meaning that different places may recognize different factors as aggravating. The opposite of an aggravating circumstance is a mitigating factor, which provides reasons why the punishment for a criminal act should be lessened.

For example, in the case of Cunningham v. California, the Supreme Court ruled that a jury can only use aggravating circumstances to impose a harsher sentence than usual if they have found those factors to be true beyond a reasonable doubt. However, prior convictions do not need to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

In cases involving capital punishment, the Eighth Amendment requires additional aggravating factors demonstrating greater culpability to support the imposition of the death penalty. For instance, in Loving v. U.S., the Supreme Court held that there must be additional aggravating factors to support the death penalty. In Hildwin v. Florida, the Court held that allowing a judge to find the aggravating circumstances authorizing a death sentence does not violate the Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial.

One example of an aggravating circumstance that can lead to a death sentence is murdering a sheriff while on duty, as stated in Magwood v. Patterson.

Overall, aggravating circumstances are important factors that can increase the severity of a criminal act and lead to harsher punishments for convicted criminals.

aggravated battery | aggravating factor

Warning

Info

General

General chat about the legal profession.
main_chatroom
👍 Chat vibe: 0 👎
Help us make LSD better!
Tell us what's important to you
Yall have motivated me to finally update my applications haha it will take me some time, but I will add them all! I have heard back from 15. 2 A's 3 WL 10 R's
17:35
I think info man ghosted me
starfishies
17:42
he was here the other day
Can anyone explain to me how the automatic status tracker works? Like do I need to enter just my LSAC/LawHub login info, or does it require the specific login portal credentials for each school? Also, how much information will this update? Will it be just the current status, or will it automatically add date applied, completion date, etc.? Thanks in advance!
Anyone know the turn around on Elon when UR
18:24
UR2 for penn omggg
18:26
i wonder what that means
windyMagician
19:21
you will get in chowie
@IrishDinosaur: thank you so much <3
20:09
The New York schools hitting me w holds
11:55
Good morning
12:06
You’re comparing a scholarship offer you don’t have yet to one you do. Why don’t you wait and see what Berkeley offers you before you come to a decision?
12:20
Because I’m stressing over this huge decision and even if they do give me money it’ll be super super expensive
12:33
Okay fair. Then I guess it depends how much you prioritize the specific outcome of unicorn PI vs graduating without an insane amount of debt
12:59
Yeah exactly 😓
fedclerkhopeful
13:27
If you truly want “unicorn” PI, I would assume that’s not even a real possibility out of UMiami
13:51
I do think people might be using the term unicorn PI too liberally
13:51
Used to mean career outcomes that were pretty much only possible out of HYS and maybe NYU
Some consider Unicorn PI to include things like Asst US Attorney. In that case, you can achieve that by going anywhere that will allow you sit for the bar so long as your grades are strong and your internships and/or clerkships align.
16:34
Chowie go to Berk cause that's probably where I end up
16:34
But in all seriousness I would take Miami. If you're 100% committed to PI I don't think the .1% outcome that may be possible from Berk is worth taking on insane debt
has anyone heard back on a saturday or sunday?
and do we think any school would send out decisions on monday (since its presidents day)
techsplitter
19:01
no
20:10
take full ride 100%
20:11
@ChowieBean: ^
20:47
@LeanDeadCloud: HR works m-thu 10-2
J-Reuben-Clark-Law
11:50
Good for UT Austin people: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWTt77PPg4Q
J-Reuben-Clark-Law
17:18
"The man of talent is like a marksman who hits a mark others cannot hit; the man of genius is like a marksman who hits a mark they cannot even see to."
LSD+ is ad-free, with DMs, discounts, case briefs & more.