Factores que el jurado puede considerar en casos de sentencia especial

Explicación Simple

En algunos juicios, el jurado tiene que decidir si la persona merece un castigo más suave. Pueden pensar en cosas como el pasado del acusado o si actuó bajo presión de alguien más.

Es como cuando un maestro decide si debe darle a un estudiante una segunda oportunidad. Si el estudiante ha tenido problemas en el pasado o si estaba muy estresado durante un examen, el maestro podría ser más comprensivo.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan, un joven de 20 años, es acusado de un crimen grave. Durante el juicio, se revela que Juan tuvo una infancia difícil y que fue presionado por un amigo para cometer el crimen. El jurado podría considerar esto y decidir que merecía una sentencia menos severa.

Penalidades

Si el jurado decide que el acusado merece una sentencia severa, puede ser condenado a muerte; si no, a cadena perpetua.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

RCW 10.95.070 - Special sentencing proceeding -- Factors which jury may consider in deciding whether leniency merited In deciding the question posed by RCW 10.95.060(4), the jury, or the court if a jury is waived, may consider any relevant factors, including but not limited to the following:(1) Whether the defendant has or does not have a significant history, either as a juvenile or an adult, of prior criminal activity;(2) Whether the murder was committed while the defendant was under the influence of extreme mental disturbance;(3) Whether the victim consented to the act of murder;(4) Whether the defendant was an accomplice to a murder committed by another person where the defendant's participation in the murder was relatively minor;(5) Whether the defendant acted under duress or domination of another person;(6) Whether, at the time of the murder, the capacity of the defendant to appreciate the wrongfulness of his or her conduct or to conform his or her conduct to the requirements of law was substantially impaired as a result of mental disease or defect. However, a person found to be mentally retarded under RCW 10.95.030(2) may in no case be sentenced to death;(7) Whether the age of the defendant at the time of the crime calls for leniency; and(8) Whether there is a likelihood that the defendant will pose a danger to others in the future. RCW 10.95.080 - When sentence to death or sentence to life imprisonment shall be imposed (1) If a jury answers affirmatively the question posed by RCW 10.95.060(4), or when a jury is waived as allowed by RCW 10.95.050(2) and the trial court answers affirmatively the question posed by RCW 10.95.060(4), the defendant shall be sentenced to death. The trial court may not suspend or defer the execution or imposition of the sentenc