What is Mitigation? [legal terminology explained]

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Mitigation is the reduction, diminution or lessening of the amount of a penalty or punishment.
A further depiction of mitigation is that of:
Mitigation is a complex, multi-pronged approach to preparing for sentencing for a
defendant’s crime with the goal of reducing or lessening the effects of aggravating factors.
Mitigation is the story-telling part of representing the criminal defendant. Where the
prosecution talks about the crime and the victim, mitigation talks about the story of the
defendant as a person before the crime, after the crime, and in the future.
Mitigation is:
a) A gathering and presentation of all trauma, abuse, neglect, and deprivation suffered
by the defendant;
b) The impact of those negative factors on ‘normal’ development;
c) Any turning points in the defendant’s life (“But for this event, the defendant would not
be here today”);
d) Evidence of positive performance and potential for reform (so the Court does not
begin to believe the defendant is “ruined” with no hope for reform in the future);
e) Evidence of remorse;
f) “Good person” evidence;
g) Any good that a defendant has accomplished (and can accomplish in the future) and
any positive measures taken by the defendant in an effort to perform restitution of the
offense.
Understanding legal terminology is important in all facets of life, in particular for law students and aspiring law students who looking to enter law school and thereafter attending classes at law school and succeeding at one's tests and examinations. This continues with the bar admission exams, which require significant study and preparation, with legal terminology be a central factor in most questions in the bar admission exams. This continues as an attorney, whether in drafting court pleadings or making arguments in court before the judge. Similarly, it applies to lawyers writing contracts and other legal documents, given the significance of specific legal terms and what they mean to the presentation of one's legal position. The same applies to non-law students and non-lawyers, where they can benefit from an understanding of otherwise complex legal terminology that can have an impact on their own life, their business endeavors or their intellectual curiosity. For that very reason, understanding these oftentimes complex legal terms can be particularly consequential.
It is important that you educate yourself with respect to legal terms, whether it is for law school, university, other school, court proceedings or simply to understand more about the law and what legal terminology means, as it is both educational and intriguing, such that you might better comprehend what is going on the world and is of personal impact to yourself, especially when it comes to educating yourself.
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