Title: In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases

State: florida

Issuer: Florida Supreme Court

Document:

Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC15-2372 
____________ 
 
 
IN RE:  STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS IN CRIMINAL CASES—
REPORT NO. 2015-08. 
 
[July 7, 2016] 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
The Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal 
Cases (Committee) has submitted proposed changes to the standard jury 
instructions in criminal cases and asks that the Court authorize the amended 
standard instructions.  We have jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const. 
The Committee proposes amending the following existing standard criminal 
jury instructions: 8.3 (Battery); 21.16 (Falsely Personating an Officer); 23.1 
(Maintaining a Place of Prostitution, Lewdness, or Assignation); 23.2 (Soliciting 
for the Purpose of Prostitution or a Lewd or Indecent Act); 23.3 (Receiving for the 
Purpose of Prostitution, Lewdness or Assignation); 23.4 (Transporting for the 
Purpose of Prostitution, Lewdness or Assignation); 23.5 (Offering to Commit, 
Committing, or Engaging in Prostitution, Lewdness, or Assignation); 23.6 
 
 
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(Soliciting for Prostitution, Lewdness, or Assignation); 23.7 (Entering for the 
Purpose of Prostitution, Lewdness, or Assignation); 28.11 (Driving While License 
Suspended, Revoked or Canceled with Knowledge); 29.20 (Abuse of [An Elderly 
Person] [A Disabled Adult]); 29.21 (Aggravated Abuse of [An Elderly Person] [A 
Disabled Adult]); and 29.22 (Neglect of [An Elderly Person] [A Disabled Adult]).1 
Before filing its report with the Court, the Committee published its proposals 
for comment in The Florida Bar News.  No comments were received by the 
Committee, and the Court did not publish the proposals once filed by the 
Committee. 
Having considered the Committee’s report, we amend standard jury 
instructions 8.3, 21.16, 29.20, 29.21, and 29.22 as proposed by the Committee and 
authorize them for publication and use.  With respect to the proposals to amend 
instructions 23.1–23.7 and 28.11, we decline to use the instant proceedings 
authorizing the publication and use of standard jury instructions as the basis for 
deciding a substantive issue—i.e., treating the statutory enhancement as an element 
                                          
 
 
1.  As originally filed in its report, the Committee also proposed new 
instruction 8.26 (Violation of Injunction for Protection Against [Repeat] [Sexual] 
[Dating] Violence).  Subsequently, the Committee moved to withdraw its proposal 
to add new instruction 8.26, on the basis that existing instruction 8.19 covers the 
crime of Violation of an Injunction for Protection Against [Repeat] [Sexual] 
[Dating] Violence, as codified in section 784.047, Florida Statutes.  The Court 
granted the Committee’s motion on April 12, 2016. 
 
 
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of the crime as opposed to a sentencing factor.  Such matters are appropriate for 
consideration by this Court only within the context of an actual case or 
controversy.  See art. V, § 3(b), Fla. Const.; In re Std. Jury Instrs. in Crim. Cases—
Report No. 2015-05, 41 Fla. L. Weekly S140 (Fla. April 7, 2016). 
The amended criminal jury instructions, as set forth in the appendix to this 
opinion, are hereby authorized for publication and use.2  New language is indicated 
by underlining, and deleted language is indicated by struck-through type.  In 
authorizing the publication and use of these instructions, we express no opinion on 
their correctness and remind all interested parties that this authorization forecloses 
neither requesting additional or alternative instructions nor contesting the legal 
correctness of the instructions.  We further caution all interested parties that any 
comments associated with the instructions reflect only the opinion of the 
Committee and are not necessarily indicative of the views of this Court as to their 
correctness or applicability.  The instructions as set forth in the appendix shall be 
effective when this opinion becomes final.   
 
It is so ordered. 
                                          
 
 
2.  The amendments as reflected in the appendix are to the Criminal Jury 
Instructions as they appear on the Court’s website at www.floridasupremecourt.org 
/jury_instructions/instructions.shtml.  We recognize that there may be minor 
discrepancies between the instructions as they appear on the website and the 
published versions of the instructions.  Any discrepancies as to instructions 
authorized for publication and use after October 25, 2007, should be resolved by 
reference to the published opinion of this Court authorizing the instruction. 
 
 
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LABARGA, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, CANADY, POLSTON, 
and PERRY, JJ., concur. 
 
NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION, AND 
IF FILED, DETERMINED. 
 
Original Proceeding – Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in 
Criminal Cases 
 
Judge Frederic Rand Wallis, Chair, Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury 
Instructions in Criminal Cases, Daytona Beach, Florida; Judge Jerri Lynn Collins, 
Past Chair, Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal 
Cases, Sanford, Florida; and Barton Neil Schneider, Staff Liaison, Office of the 
State Courts Administrator, Tallahassee, Florida, 
 
 
for Petitioner 
 
 
 
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APPENDIX 
8.3 BATTERY 
§ 784.03, Fla. Stat. 
To prove the crime of Battery, the State must prove the following 
element beyond a reasonable doubt: 
Give 1 and/or 2 as applicable. 
1. 
[(Defendant) intentionally touched or struck (victim) against 
[his] [her] will.] 
2. 
[(Defendant) intentionally caused bodily harm to (victim).] 
Give if the defendant is charged with having a prior conviction for battery, 
felony battery, or aggravated battery and after the jury found the defendant guilty. 
§ 784.03(2), Fla. Stat.; State v. Harbaugh, 754 So. 2d 691 (Fla. 2000). 
Now that you have found (defendant) guilty of Battery, you must 
determine whether the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that [he] [she] 
has a prior conviction for battery [or aggravated battery] [or felony battery]. 
“Conviction” means a determination of guilt that resulted from a plea 
or trial, regardless of whether [he] [she] was adjudicated guilty or whether 
adjudication was withheld. 
Lesser Included Offenses 
BATTERY — 784.03 
CATEGORY ONE 
CATEGORY TWO 
FLA. STAT. 
INS. NO. 
None 
 
 
 
 
Attempt 
777.04(1) 
5.1 
Comment 
This instruction was approved in 1981 and amended in 2016. 
 
 
 
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21.16 FALSELY PERSONATING AN OFFICER 
§ 843.08, Fla. Stat. 
To prove the crime of Falsely Personating An Officer, the State must 
prove the following [two] [three] elements beyond a reasonable doubt: 
1. 
(Defendant) falsely assumed or pretended to be a[n] [police 
officer] [deputy sheriff] [sheriff] [firefighter] [officer of the 
Florida Highway Patrol] [officer of the Fish and Wildlife 
Conservation Commission] [officer of the Department of 
Transportation] [fire or arson investigator of the 
Department of Financial Services] [officer of the 
Department of Financial Services] [officer of the 
Department of Corrections] [correctional probation officer] 
[state attorney] [assistant state attorney] [statewide 
prosecutor] [assistant statewide prosecutor] [state attorney 
investigator] [coroner] [lottery special agent] [lottery 
investigator] [beverage enforcement agent] [watchman] 
[member of the Parole Florida Commission on Offender 
Review] [administrative aide to the Parole Florida 
Commission on Offender Review] [supervisor employed by 
the Parole Florida Commission on Offender Review] 
[representative or personnel of the Department of Law 
Enforcement] [federal law enforcement officer].  
2. 
While doing so, (defendant) [took it upon [himself] [herself] 
to act as such an officer] [required [someone] [(name of 
person)] to aid or assist [him] [her] in a matter pertaining to 
the duty of such an officer]. 
Give if applicable.  
3. 
The impersonation occurred during the commission of a 
felony. 
The court instructs you that (name of felony) is a felony. A[n] (name of 
felony) is defined as (insert elements of felony). 
Definitions. Give if applicable. 
§ 901.1505, Fla. Stat. 
A federal law enforcement officer is a person who is employed by the 
Federal Government as a full-time law enforcement officer, who is 
 
 
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empowered to effect an arrest for violations of the United States Code, who is 
authorized to carry firearms in the performance of her or his duties, and who 
has received law enforcement training equivalent to training for Florida law 
enforcement officers. 
§ 843.08, Fla. Stat. 
A “watchman” means a security officer licensed under Chapter 493 of 
the Florida Statutes. 
See other statutes for definitions of other officers, if needed. 
Give if applicable.  
If you find the defendant guilty of Falsely Personating an Officer and 
that the impersonation occurred during the commission of a felony, you must 
then determine whether the State has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that 
the commission of the felony resulted in [death] [or] [personal injury] to 
another human being. 
Lesser Included Offenses 
FALSELY PERSONATING AN OFFICER — 843.08 
CATEGORY ONE 
CATEGORY TWO 
FLA. STAT. 
INS. NO. 
None 
 
 
 
 
Attempt 
777.04(1) 
5.1 
Comment 
This instruction was adopted in 2013 [122 So. 3d 302] and amended in 2016. 
 
29.20 ABUSE OF [AN ELDERLY PERSON] [A DISABLED ADULT] 
§ 825.102(1), Fla. Stat. 
To prove the crime of Abuse of [An Elderly Person] [A Disabled Adult], 
the State must prove the following two elements beyond a reasonable doubt: 
1. 
(Defendant) knowingly or willfully abused (victim) by: 
 
 
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Give as applicable. 
a. 
intentionally inflicteding physical or psychological 
injury upon (victim). 
b. 
committeding an intentional act that could reasonably 
be expected to result in physical or psychological 
injury to (victim). 
c. 
actively encourageding another person to commit an 
act that resulted in or could reasonably have been 
expected to result in physical or psychological injury 
to (victim). 
2. 
At the time, (victim) was [an elderly person] [a disabled 
adult]. 
Definitions. Give as applicable. 
§ 825.101(43), Fla. Stat. 
“Disabled adult” means a person 18 years of age or older who suffers 
from a condition of physical or mental incapacitation due to a developmental 
disability, organic brain damage, or mental illness, or who has one or more 
physical or mental limitations that restrict the person’s ability to perform the 
normal activities of daily living. 
§ 825.101(54), Fla. Stat. 
“Elderly person” means a person 60 years of age or older who is 
suffering from the infirmities of aging as manifested by advanced age or 
organic brain damage, or other physical, mental, or emotional dysfunctioning, 
to the extent that the ability of the person to provide adequately for the 
person’s own care or protection is impaired. 
Patterson v. State, 512 So. 2d 1109 (Fla. 1st DCA 1987). 
“Willfully” means knowingly, intentionally, and purposely. 
 
 
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Lesser Included Offenses 
ABUSE OF [AN ELDERLY PERSON] [A DISABLED ADULT] — 
825.102(1) 
CATEGORY ONE 
CATEGORY TWO 
FLA. STAT. 
INS. NO. 
None 
 
 
 
 
Battery  
784.03 
8.3 
 
Attempt 
777.04(1) 
5.1 
Comment 
This instruction was adopted in 2013 [131 So. 3d 692] and amended in 2016. 
 
29.21 AGGRAVATED ABUSE OF [AN ELDERLY PERSON] 
 [A DISABLED ADULT] 
§ 825.102(2), Fla. Stat. 
To prove the crime of Aggravated Abuse of [An Elderly Person] 
[Disabled Adult], the State must prove the following two elements beyond a 
reasonable doubt: 
1. 
(Defendant) 
Give as applicable. 
a. 
committed aggravated battery upon (victim). 
b. 
willfully tortured (victim). 
c. 
maliciously punished (victim). 
d. 
willfully and unlawfully caged (victim). 
e. 
knowingly or willfully abused (victim) and in so doing 
caused great bodily harm, permanent disability, or 
permanent disfigurement. 
2. 
At the time, (victim) was [an elderly person] [a disabled 
adult]. 
 
 
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Definitions. Give as applicable. 
§ 825.101(43), Fla. Stat. 
“Disabled adult” means a person 18 years of age or older who suffers 
from a condition of physical or mental incapacitation due to a developmental 
disability, organic brain damage, or mental illness, or who has one or more 
physical or mental limitations that restrict the person’s ability to perform the 
normal activities of daily living. 
§ 825.101(54), Fla. Stat. 
“Elderly person” means a person 60 years of age or older who is 
suffering from the infirmities of aging as manifested by advanced age or 
organic brain damage, or other physical, mental, or emotional dysfunctioning, 
to the extent that the ability of the person to provide adequately for the 
person’s own care or protection is impaired. 
Give if element 1a is charged. 
§ 784.045, Fla. Stat. 
In order to prove that an aggravated battery was committed, the State 
must prove the following: 
1. 
(Defendant) intentionally touched or struck (victim) against 
the will of (victim) or caused bodily harm to (victim). 
2. 
In so doing, (defendant) intentionally or knowingly caused 
[great bodily harm] [permanent disability] [permanent 
disfigurement] or [used a deadly weapon]. 
Give if applicable. 
A weapon is a “deadly weapon” if it is used or threatened to be used in a 
way likely to produce death or great bodily harm. 
Give if element 1b, 1d, or 1e is charged. 
Patterson v. State, 512 So. 2d 1109 (Fla. 1st DCA 1987). 
“Willfully” means knowingly, intentionally, and purposely. 
Give if element 1c is charged. 
“Maliciously” means wrongfully, intentionally, and without legal 
justification or excuse. Maliciousness may be established by circumstances 
from which one could conclude that a reasonable person would not have 
engaged in the damaging acts toward the victim (victim) for any valid reason 
 
 
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and that the primary purpose of the acts was to cause the victim (victim) 
unjustifiable pain or injury. 
Give if element 1e is charged. 
“Abused” means the [intentional infliction of physical or psychological 
injury upon [an elderly person] [a disabled adult]] [commission of an 
intentional act that could reasonably be expected to result in physical or 
psychological injury to [an elderly person] [a disabled adult]] [active 
encouragement of any person to commit an act that results or could 
reasonably be expected to result in physical or psychological injury to [an 
elderly person] [a disabled adult]]. 
Lesser Included Offenses 
AGGRAVATED ABUSE OF [AN ELDERLY PERSON] 
[A DISABLED ADULT] — 825.102(2) 
CATEGORY ONE 
CATEGORY TWO 
FLA. STAT. 
INS. NO. 
Aggravated Battery if  
Fla. Stat. 
825.102(2)(a), Fla. 
Stat., is charged 
 
784.045 
8.4 
Abuse of An Elderly 
Person or Disabled 
Adult  
 
825.102(1) 
29.20 
Felony Battery if Fla. 
Stat. 825.102(2)(a), 
Fla. Stat., is charged 
 
784.041(1) 
8.5 
Battery if Fla. Stat. 
825.102(2)(a), Fla. 
Stat., is charged  
 
784.03 
8.3 
 
Attempt 
777.04(1) 
5.1 
Comment 
This instruction was adopted in 2013 [131 So. 3d 692] and amended in 2016. 
 
 
 
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29.22 NEGLECT OF [AN ELDERLY PERSON] [A DISABLED ADULT] 
§ 825.102(3), Fla. Stat. 
To prove the crime of Neglect of [An Elderly Person] [A Disabled 
Adult], the State must prove the following three elements beyond a reasonable 
doubt: 
1. 
(Defendant) was a caregiver for (victim). 
2. 
(Victim) was [an elderly person] [a disabled adult]. 
3. 
(Defendant) 
Give as applicable. 
a. 
[willfully] [or] [by culpable negligence] failed or 
omitted to provide (victim) with the care, supervision, 
and services necessary to maintain (victim’s) physical 
or mental health. 
b. 
failed to make a reasonable effort to protect (victim) 
from [abuse], [neglect], [or] [exploitation] by another 
person. 
Give if the § 825.102(3)(b), Fla. Stat., is charged. 
If you find the defendant guilty of Neglect of [An Elderly Person] [A 
Disabled Adult], you must then determine whether the State proved beyond a 
reasonable doubt that the defendant’s failure or omission caused [great bodily 
harm] [permanent disability] [or] [permanent disfigurement] to (victim). 
Definitions. 
Give if applicable. § 825.101(43), Fla. Stat. 
“Disabled adult” means a person 18 years of age or older who suffers 
from a condition of physical or mental incapacitation due to a developmental 
disability, organic brain damage, or mental illness, or who has one or more 
physical or mental limitations that restrict the person’s ability to perform the 
normal activities of daily living. 
Give if applicable. § 825.101(54), Fla. Stat. 
“Elderly person” means a person 60 years of age or older who is 
suffering from the infirmities of aging as manifested by advanced age or 
organic brain damage, or other physical, mental, or emotional dysfunctioning, 
 
 
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to the extent that the ability of the person to provide adequately for the 
person’s own care or protection is impaired. 
Give in all cases. § 825.101(2), Fla. Stat. 
“Caregiver” means a person who has been entrusted with or has 
assumed responsibility for the care or the property of [an elderly person] [a 
disabled adult]. “Caregiver” includes, but is not limited to, relatives, court-
appointed or voluntary guardians, adult household members, neighbors, 
health care providers, and employees and volunteers of facilities. [“Facility” 
means any location providing day or residential care or treatment for elderly 
persons or disabled adults. The term “facility” may include, but is not limited 
to, any hospital, training center, state institution, nursing home, assisted living 
facility, adult family-care home, adult day care center, group home, mental 
health treatment center, or continuing care community.] 
Give if “willfully” is charged within element 3a. 
Patterson v. State, 512 So. 2d 1109 (Fla. 1stst DCA 1987). 
“Willfully” means knowingly, intentionally, and purposely. 
Give if “culpable negligence” is charged within element 3a. 
I will now define what is meant by the term “culpable negligence”: Each 
of us has a duty to act reasonably toward others. If there is a violation of that 
duty, without any conscious intention to harm, that violation is negligence. 
But culpable negligence is more than a failure to use ordinary care for others. 
For negligence to be called culpable negligence, it must be gross and flagrant. 
The negligence must be committed with an utter disregard for the safety of 
others. Culpable negligence is consciously doing an act or following a course 
of conduct that the defendant must have known, or reasonably should have 
known, was likely to cause death or great bodily harm. 
Give if element 3a is charged. § 825.102(3)(a), Fla. Stat. 
“Care, supervision, and services necessary to maintain the [elderly 
person’s] [disabled adult’s] physical and mental health” include, but are not 
limited to, food, nutrition, clothing, shelter, supervision, medicine, and 
medical services that a prudent person would consider essential for the well-
being of the [elderly person] [disabled adult]. 
Give if “abuse” is charged within element 3b. § 825.102(1), Fla. Stat. 
“Abuse” means the [intentional infliction of physical or psychological 
injury upon [an elderly person] [a disabled adult]] [commission of an 
 
 
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intentional act that could reasonably be expected to result in physical or 
psychological injury to [an elderly person] [a disabled adult]] [active 
encouragement of any person to commit an act that results or could 
reasonably be expected to result in physical or psychological injury to [an 
elderly person] [a disabled adult]]. 
Give if “neglect” is charged within element 3b. § 825.102(3), Fla. Stat. 
Neglect of [an elderly person] [a disabled adult] may be based on 
repeated conduct or on a single incident or omission that resulted in, or 
reasonably could have been expected to result in, serious physical or 
psychological injury, or a substantial risk of death, to [an elderly person] [a 
disabled adult]. 
If “exploitation” is charged within element 3b, insert the elements from 
Instruction 14.9. See § 825.103, Fla. Stat. 
Lesser Included Offenses 
NEGLECT OF [AN ELDERLY PERSON] [A DISABLED ADULT] 
CAUSING [GREAT BODILY HARM] [PERMANENT DISABILITY] 
[PERMANENT DISFIGUREMENT] — 825.102(3)(b) 
CATEGORY ONE 
CATEGORY TWO 
FLA. STAT. 
INS. NO. 
Neglect of [An Elderly 
Person] [A Disabled 
Adult] Without 
Causing Great Bodily 
Harm, Permanent 
Disability, or 
Permanent 
Disfigurement 
 
825.102(3)(c) 
29.22 
Culpable Negligence 
Inflicting Actual 
Personal Injury, if 
culpable negligence is 
charged 
 
784.05(2) 
8.9 
Culpable Negligence 
Exposing Another 
Person to Personal 
Injury, if culpable 
negligence is charged 
 
784.05(1) 
8.9 
 
 
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Comment 
This instruction was adopted in 2013 [131 So. 3d 692] and amended in 2016.