Special circumstances (criminal law)

Special circumstances in criminal law are actions of the accused, or conditions under which a crime, particularly homicide, was committed. Such factors require or allow for a more severe punishment.

Special circumstances are elements of the crime itself, and thus must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt during the guilt phase of the trial. As such, they are formally distinct from aggravating circumstances, in that the latter are proven during the penalty phase of the trial instead.[1]

Examples

In California, the penalty for murder in the first degree is death or imprisonment for life without the possibility of parole if one or more of 22 listed special circumstances are found to be true.[2]

In Connecticut, there are eight ways to be convicted of murder with special circumstances, all mandating the penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Palmer, Louis J. (1998). "Distinguishing Special Circumstances and Statutory Aggravators". The Death Penalty: An American Citizen's Guide to Understanding Federal and State Laws. McFarland. ISBN 9780786404445.
  2. ↑ "California Penal Code, section 190.2".
  3. ↑ "2012 Connecticut General Statutes Title 53a - Penal Code Chapter 952".


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