What enhances the charge of escaping from second degree to first degree?

The enhancement of the charge from escaping second degree to first degree is primarily influenced by the factor of serious bodily injury. When an individual escapes from custody and causes serious bodily injury to another person during the course of that escape, the severity of the offense escalates significantly. This is because the act of causing serious bodily injury reflects a greater level of intent and disregard for human life, which elevates the criminal charge to first degree. In legal terms, serious bodily injury is defined as an injury that involves a substantial risk of death, serious permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member or organ.

Other factors, such as the use of physical force or intent to commit a crime, while relevant in the context of offenses, do not carry the same weight when it comes to elevating the charge in this specific scenario as serious bodily injury does. They may contribute to the overall context of an escape but do not inherently lead to the enhancement from second to first degree as does the infliction of serious bodily injury on another individual.