Suburban Law Enforcement Academy (SLEA) BA State Certification Practice Exam

Which factor is NOT typically considered an aggravating factor in first degree murder?

1. Driven by revenge

2. Two or more killed

3. Completed without a plan

4. Under age or elderly victim

The correct answer is: Completed without a plan

In the context of first-degree murder, aggravating factors are circumstances that increase the severity or culpability of a crime, potentially leading to harsher penalties. The factor that is not typically considered aggravating is when the act is completed without a plan. First-degree murder generally involves a premeditated intent to kill, which means that if the act is done without planning or forethought, it may reflect a lack of the deliberation required to classify the crime as first-degree murder in the first place. In contrast, factors driven by revenge, committing the act against multiple victims, or targeting a vulnerable group such as the elderly or underage, all demonstrate a higher degree of malice or depravity. These elements serve to escalate the offense's gravity, which is why they are recognized as aggravating factors. The lack of planning detracts from the premeditated nature essential to first-degree murder, thereby not qualifying as an aggravating factor.