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Simple English definitions for legal terms
extenuating circumstances
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A quick definition of extenuating circumstances:
Extenuating circumstances are important details that help us understand a situation better. They can make someone's actions seem less bad or their responsibility for those actions less severe. In a criminal trial, extenuating circumstances might result in a lower charge or a shorter sentence. In civil cases, they might mean less money awarded. The opposite of extenuating circumstances are aggravating factors, which can make punishment worse in a criminal case.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Extenuating circumstances refer to important facts or details that are necessary for fully understanding a situation. These factors may make a person's actions seem less severe or reduce their culpability in those actions. In criminal trials, extenuating circumstances may result in a lower charge or a reduction in punishment, such as a shorter sentence. In civil cases, extenuating circumstances may decrease the amount of damages awarded. The opposite of extenuating circumstances are aggravating factors, which may increase punishment in a criminal setting.
- A person who steals food because they are starving may have extenuating circumstances that could reduce their punishment.
- A driver who causes an accident because they were swerving to avoid hitting a child in the road may have extenuating circumstances that could reduce their liability for damages.
These examples illustrate how extenuating circumstances can be used to provide context and understanding for a person's actions. In both cases, the circumstances surrounding the event may make the person's actions seem less severe or less intentional, which could result in a reduction in punishment or liability.