What are mitigating circumstances?
Those which, if present in the commission of the crime, do not entirely free the actor from criminal liability, but serve only to reduce the penalty
Basis for mitigating circumstances
Diminution of either freedom of action, intelligence, or intent, or on the lesser perversity of the offender
Classes of mitigating circumstances (2)
What are ordinary mitigating circumstances?
Those enumerated in subsections 1-10 of Art. 13 of the RPC. For those mentioned in subsection 1, if Art. 69 does not apply
What are the privileged mitigating circumstances?
Privileged mitigating circumstances applicable only to these particular crimes (2) (To be confirmed)
Distinctions between odrinary mitigating and privileged mitigating circumstances
If there are mitigating circumstances, do these change the nature of the crime?
No. They only reduce the penalty.
Ordinary or generic mitigating reduces the penalty imposed to the minimum penalty of the crime committed
Privileged mitigating reduces the penalty for the crime committed by one or two degrees lower
What are the mitigating circumstances mentioned in Art. 13 of the RPC, whereas par. 2 is impliedly repealed by RA 9344 ? (10)
What are the circumstances of justification or exemption which may give place to mitigation, because not all the requisites necessary to justify the act or exempt from criminal liability in the respecctive cases are attendant? (9)
Why can’t paragraphs 1 and 2 of Art. 12 give place to mitigation?
The mental condition of a person is indivisible. No middle ground between sanity and insanity, between presences and absence of intelligence
Cases in which all requisites necessary to justify the act are not attendant (4)
When is par.1 of Art. 13 applicable in relation to par no.’s 1-3 of Art. 11?
Only when unlawful aggression is present but the other two requisites are not present
What article applies when it is TWO OF THE THREE requisites are present in par no.’s 1-3 of Art. 11
Aritcle 69 (Priviledged Mitigating Circumstance). This is applicabe when MAJORITY of the requisites to justify the act is present
In avoidance of greater evil of injury, when is it a mitigating circumstance?
When any of the last 2 requisites is absent (That the injury feared be greater than that done to avoid it / That there be no other practical and less harmful means of preventing it)
In performance of duty, when is it a mitigating circumstance?
When one of the requisites is lacking, however, there is no ordinary mitigating circumstance under such since the Supreme Court considered one of the two requisites as constituting the majority in cases where there are only two requisites hence, Article 69 (priviledged mitigating circumstances) applies
Cases in which all requisites necessary to exempt from criminal liability are not attendant (3)
In incomplete exempting circumstance of accident, if the 2nd requisite (with due care) and 1st part of the 4th requisite (without fault) are absent, is there a mitigating circumstance?
Yes. This case falls under Art. 365 of the RPC which punishes felonies by negligence or imprudence. There is a mitigating circumstance as the penalty provided is lower than that for intentional felony
In incomplete exempting circumstance of accident, if the 1st requisite (lawful act) and 2nd part of the 4th requisite (without intention) are absent, is there a mitigating circumstance?
No. There is no mitigating circumstance at all as it will be an intentional felony. In said case, the 2nd and 3rd requisites are not present either
Define “Diversion” under RA 9344
It refers to an alternative, child-appropriate process of determining the responsibility and treatment of a child in conflict with the law on the basis of his/her social, cultural, economic, psychological, or educational background without resulting to formal court proceedings
Define “Diversion Program” under RA 9344
The program that the child in conflict with the law is required to undergo after he/she is found responsible for an offense without resoting to formal court proceedings
Conditions for children in conflict with the law to undergo diversion programs without undergoing court proceedings (3)
When may a contract of diversion be entered into?
During a conferencing, mediation or conciliation(CMC) proceeding. This is when the child admits the commission of the act during said CMC and a diversion program is developed as evidenced by the contract of diversion, which is binding and effective if accepted by the parties concerned
What happens to the period of prescription of the offense when the child in conflict with the law undergoes a diversion program?
The period of prescription of the offense shall be suspended during the effectivity of the diversion program, but not exceeding a period of TWO years (Sec. 26 of RA 9344)