Delitos de diferentes grados y su consideración en juicio

Explicación Simple

Cuando alguien es acusado de un delito, un jurado puede decidir que no es culpable del delito más grave, pero sí de uno menos grave. También pueden encontrar que solo intentó cometer el delito, lo que es un cargo menor.

Es como si en un juego de fútbol, un jugador comete una falta. El árbitro puede decidir que no fue penalti, pero sí una falta menor, o que solo intentó hacer una jugada que salió mal.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan es acusado de robo a mano armada, pero durante el juicio, el jurado no está seguro de que realmente lo hizo. Pueden decidir que Juan no es culpable de robo a mano armada, pero sí de un robo menor, o que solo intentó robar sin llegar a hacerlo.

Penalidades

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Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

RCW 10.61.003 - Degree offenses -- Inferior degree -- Attempt Upon an indictment or information for an offense consisting of different degrees, the jury may find the defendant not guilty of the degree charged in the indictment or information, and guilty of any degree inferior thereto, or of an attempt to commit the offense. RCW 10.61.006 - Other cases -- Included offenses In all other cases the defendant may be found guilty of an offense the commission of which is necessarily included within that with which he is charged in the indictment or information. RCW 10.61.010 - Conviction of lesser crime Upon the trial of an indictment or information, the defendant may be convicted of the crime charged therein, or of a lesser degree of the same crime, or of an attempt to commit the crime so charged, or of an attempt to commit a lesser degree of the same crime. Whenever the jury shall find a verdict of guilty against a person so charged, they shall in their verdict specify the degree or attempt of which the accused is guilty. RCW 10.61.035 - Conviction or acquittal -- Several defendants Upon an indictment or information against several defendants any one or more may be convicted or acquitted. RCW 10.61.060 - Reconsideration of verdict When there is a verdict of conviction in which it appears to the court that the jury have mistaken the law, the court may explain the reason for that opinion, and direct the jury to reconsider the verdict; and if after such reconsideration they return the same verdict it must be entered, but it shall be good cause for new trial. When there is a verdict of acquittal the court cannot require the jury to reconsider it.