Utah Special Enhancements — Not a Defense is a sentencing enhancement that allows a judge to increase the sentence of a criminal, even if the defendant is not found guilty of the original crime. It can be applied in a variety of ways, depending on the circumstances. There are three main types of Utah Special Enhancements — Not a Defense: Aggravating Circumstances, Habitual Offender Enhancements, and Crime of Violence Enhancements. Aggravating Circumstances are used to increase the sentence for a particular crime if the court finds that the circumstances of the crime demonstrate that the crime was especially heinous and reprehensible. Habitual Offender Enhancements are used when the defendant has a prior criminal history or has committed a similar crime. Lastly, Crime of Violence Enhancements are used when the defendant has committed a crime involving violence or the threat of violence.