| Many people have heard of assault and battery in | | | | - Did the criminal or accused possess explosives |
| terms of criminal charges. Many others, | | | | or other dangrous weapons while allegedly |
| particularly those who have watched Law & | | | | committing the crime? |
| Order or any of a variety of crime shows on TV, | | | | These are just a few of the many factors that |
| have also heard of aggravated crimes, like | | | | can convert a crime from regular to aggravated. |
| aggravated assault or aggravated battery. The | | | | Like assault or battery, a person can aggravate |
| question is what exactly "aggravates" a crime? | | | | murder as well. Unfortunately, the circumstances |
| An aggravated crime is a crime that exists when | | | | which make a murder aggravated are different |
| certain situations and conditions apply during and | | | | from making other, less heinous crimes |
| or after a criminal offense. There are far too | | | | aggravated. The above questions if answered in |
| many ways in which a crime can be "aggravated" | | | | the affirmative may apply, but the location and |
| to name them all here. In general, the process is | | | | the situation surrounding the murder are the key |
| one of conversion in which a crime is converted | | | | ingredients towards making a murder charge |
| from a general crime to an aggravated crime. In | | | | aggravated. |
| every case, the situation that will change a crime | | | | As an example, if a person is in prison and |
| from general to aggravated depends on the crime | | | | commits murder, the murder of the other inmate |
| that is being committed. | | | | or other individual is considered aggravated |
| There are a wide variety of factors that can | | | | because of the location. Here, the inmate probably |
| influence whether a crime is aggravated or not. | | | | doesn't have access to explosives or other |
| Some of the factors that play a part in this | | | | dangerous weapons and so location is pretty |
| determination include: | | | | much all there is to go by. |
| - Was there a dangerous weapon involved? | | | | Aggravated crimes frequently come with higher |
| - Was bodily injury caused as a result of the | | | | prison sentences than their non-aggravated |
| criminal act? | | | | counterparts. In addition, the aggravated crime |
| - Was there a threat of use of a dangerous | | | | may have a different result in terms of what |
| weapon made? | | | | happens once the person gets out of jail or prison |
| - Was a dangerous weapon used after the or | | | | and whether the crime may be expunged or the |
| without a threat? | | | | record sealed later on in the person's life. |