Final answer:
Finding an aggravator beyond a reasonable doubt does not mandate the death penalty; rather, the Supreme Court requires weighing aggravating against mitigating factors to determine the sentence. States' death penalty statutes must include provisions for such determinations, and the Court has placed various limits on the administration of the death penalty.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding the Death Penalty and Aggravating Factors
Finding an aggravator beyond a reasonable doubt does not automatically mandate the death penalty. In cases involving capital homicide, where the defendant is potentially eligible for the death penalty, the Supreme Court requires a careful weighing of aggravating factors against mitigating factors to determine an appropriate sentence as seen in Proffitt v. Florida. The standard of proof for these cases is 'beyond a reasonable doubt' which means the evidence must be convincing to such a degree that there is no reasonable doubt about the defendant's guilt or the existence of aggravating factors.
In Gregg v. Georgia, the Supreme Court ruled that states must narrow the class of defendants eligible for the death penalty to ensure fair application of capital punishment. Additionally, each state's death penalty statute, like those validated in Jurek v. Texas and Gregg v. Georgia, typically includes provisions for separate sentencing proceedings during which the jury considers whether death is the appropriate punishment after a defendant is found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Moreover, in landmark rulings such as Apprendi v. New Jersey and Furman v. Georgia, the Court established that any fact that increases a sentence beyond the maximum must be presented to a jury and proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and that the arbitrary and inconsistent imposition of the death penalty is unconstitutional. Further, the Court has placed limits on the death penalty, for instance ruling it unconstitutional in cases without murder or crimes against the state as per Kennedy v. Louisiana.
It's important to note that if a defendant is found not guilty, they are released unless other charges are pending. However, if guilty, the judge or jury determines the sentence based on the law and case circumstances, potentially comparing aggravators and mitigators in the event the death penalty is on the table.