Final answer:
Cooperating with the authorities, good character, and no prior record are considered mitigating factors in sentencing, which may lead to reduced penalties. So, the correct answer is option b.
Step-by-step explanation:
Regarding sentencing, cooperating with the authorities, good character, and no prior record are examples of mitigating factors. Mitigating factors are considerations or circumstances that may lead to a reduced sentence as they suggest that the defendant is less culpable or deserving of a lighter punishment.
On the contrary, aggravating factors would be circumstances that increase the severity of the crime and can lead to a harsher sentence.