A capital felony may result in which of the following outcomes?

A capital felony is one of the most serious categories of criminal offenses, usually involving the most heinous crimes, such as murder, especially where aggravating circumstances are present. The legal system recognizes the severity of these offenses and therefore prescribes two primary outcomes: the death penalty or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Choosing the outcome of death or life imprisonment without parole reflects an understanding of the gravity of capital felonies. The death penalty is a possible sentence in many jurisdictions for particularly severe crimes that society deems warrant such a response. When a defendant is convicted of a capital felony and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole, it signifies that they will remain incarcerated for life with no opportunity for release, aligning with society’s interest in public safety and the seriousness of the crime.

The other options do not align with the typical outcomes associated with capital felonies. Life imprisonment only fails to capture the possibility of the death penalty. A fine of up to $100,000 does not reflect the seriousness of such crimes, since financial penalties are generally applicable to less severe offenses. Lastly, probation and community service are not appropriate sanctions for capital felonies, as these sentences are typically reserved for less serious offenses where rehabilitation is possible without confinement. Thus, the selection of death