Mitigating Factor

• factor which supports a more serious charge and/or stiffer penalty

• classification for the most serious type of crimes

• factor which favors the accused and makes a lesser charge and/or sentence

• classification for a crime of medium gravity; more serious than infraction

Aggravating Factor

• factor which favors the accused and makes a lesser charge and/or sentence

• Latin phrase meaning “bad in itself”; crime classification

• factor which supports a more serious charge and/or stiffer penalty

• harmful result; element of a crime

classification for the most serious type of crimes

• Aggravating Factor

• Felony

• Mitigating Factor

• Misdemeanor

classification for a crime of medium gravity; more serious than infractions, but less serious than felonies

• Misdemeanor

• Infraction

• Causation

• Aggravating Factor

classification for the least serious type of crime; may also be called petty offense

• Mala In Se

• Concurrence

• Infraction

• Mens Rea

Latin phrase meaning “bad in itself”; crime classification

• Actus Reus

• Mens Rea

• Mala In Se

• Mala Prohibita

Latin phrase meaning “bad because prohibited”; crime classification

• Mala Prohibita

• Mens Rea

• Mala In Se

• Actus Reus

Causation

• classification for a crime of medium gravity; more serious than infraction

• factor which favors the accused and makes a lesser charge and/or sentence

• harmful result; element of a crime

• factor which supports a more serious charge and/or stiffer penalty

simultaneous occurrence of criminal act and criminal intent; one of the essential elements of a crime

• Concurrence

• Causation

• Crime

• Infraction

criminal intent; one of the essential elements of a crime

• Crime

• Actus Reus

• Men Rea

• Actus Reus