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Aggravating Factors May Lead to Harsher Consequences

If you are facing criminal charges, there are some aggravating factors that, if present in your case, could increase the severity of the penalties you might face. The following are a few examples of these aggravating factors:

  • Injury: Generally, the more severe the injury the victim suffered, the harsher the penalty the defendant could face. In some situations, injuries with additional factors (such as the use of a deadly weapon or more severe injuries) could result in a sentence that’s actually greater than the standard range sentence for the crime committed.
  • Defendant indifference: If the defendant comes off as being indifferent to the results of his or her actions, or does not seem to have any remorse, a judge may consider this as a factor in the sentencing. If the judge determines this to be an aggravating factor, the sentence could be tougher.
  • Multiple crimes: If a defendant has committed multiple crimes within a short timeframe, a judge may feel justified in handing down a harsher sentence because the defendant had been on a crime spree. The sentences could be made to run consecutively to each other.

To defend against aggravating factors, a defendant must be able to explain his or her actions. The ability to separate the increase in severity from other elements of the case could lead to a greater chance of success for the defendant.

For further information on how aggravating factors could affect your case, speak with skilled Reading criminal defense lawyer David R. Eshelman.

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