Mitigating factors are those proven facts of the case presented at the sentencing hearing to the court, not for the purpose of exonerating the Offender, but for the purposes of ‘mitigating’ the guilt of the offender with the suggestion that any penalty ought be reduced. This not only includes the facts of the crime that person has been convicted of, but here also the ‘Gladue Principles’ as set out by the Supreme Court and personal information regarding the Offender, his family and community.