Title: In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases

State: florida

Issuer: Florida Supreme Court

Document:

Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC15-1174 
____________ 
 
 
IN RE:  STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS IN CRIMINAL CASES—
REPORT NO. 2015-05. 
 
[April 7, 2016] 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
The Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal 
Cases (Committee) has submitted a report proposing amendments to seventeen 
existing standard criminal jury instructions and the addition of two new 
instructions.  We have jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const. 
The Committee proposes amending existing instructions 11.14 (Failure by a 
Sexual Offender to Comply with Registration Requirements—Initially Register, 
Report, or Provide Registration Items); 11.14(a) (Failure by a Sexual Offender to 
Comply with Registration Requirements—Failure to Comply with Registration of 
a Residence, Motor Vehicle, Trailer, Mobile Home, Manufactured Home, Vessel, 
or Houseboat); 11.14(b) (Failure by a Sexual Offender to Comply with 
Registration Requirements—Failure to Comply with Registration of [Employment] 
 
 
- 2 - 
[Enrollment] [Volunteering] [Carrying on a Vocation] at an Institution of Higher 
Learning); 11.14(c) (Failure by a Sexual Offender to Comply with Registration 
Requirements—Failure to Report to Department of Highway Safety and Motor 
Vehicles); 11.14(d) (Failure by a Sexual Offender to Comply with Registration 
Requirements—Failure to Report Change of Name or Address within the State or 
Jurisdiction); 11.14(e) (Failure by a Sexual Offender to Comply with Registration 
Requirements—Failure to Report Change of Residence to Another State or 
Jurisdiction or Country); 11.14(g) (Failure by a Sexual Offender to Comply with 
Registration Requirements—Failure to Report Twice a Year/Failure to Report 
Quarterly/Providing False Information); 11.14(h) (Sexual Offender Definitions); 
11.15 (Failure to Register as a Sexual Predator—Initially Register—In Custody, 
Control or under the Supervision of the Department of Corrections); 11.15(b) 
(Failure by a Sexual Predator to Comply with Registration Requirements—Failure 
to Provide Required Information); 11.15(c) (Failure by a Sexual Predator to 
Comply with Registration Requirements—Failure to Comply with Registration of 
a Residence, Motor Vehicle, Trailer, Mobile Home, or Manufactured Home); 
11.15(d) (Failure by a Sexual Predator to Comply with Registration 
Requirements—Failure to Comply with Registration of [Enrollment] 
[Employment] [Volunteering] [Carrying on a Vocation] at an Institution of Higher 
Education); 11.15(e) (Failure by a Sexual Predator to Comply with Registration 
 
 
- 3 - 
Requirements—Failure to Report to Department of Highway Safety and Motor 
Vehicles); 11.15(g) (Failure by a Sexual Predator to Comply with Registration 
Requirements—Failure to Report Change of Name or Address Within the State or 
Jurisdiction); 11.15(h) (Failure by a Sexual Predator to Comply with Registration 
Requirements—Failure to Respond to Address Verification Correspondence); 
11.15(i) (Failure by a Sexual Predator to Comply with Registration 
Requirements—Failure to Report Intent to Move to Another State, Jurisdiction, or 
Country); and 11.15(l) (Sexual Predator Definitions).  The Committee also 
proposes adding new instructions 11.14(i) (Failure by a Sexual Offender to 
Comply with Registration Requirements—Failure to Report Every 30 Days for 
Transient Residences) and 11.15(m) (Failure by a Sexual Predator to Comply with 
Registration Requirements—Failure to Report Every 30 Days for Transient 
Residences). 
Before filing its report with the Court, the Committee published its proposals 
for comment.  The Committee received one comment from the Florida Association 
of Criminal Defense Lawyers (FACDL) regarding the proposed amendments to 
instructions 11.14, 11.14(d), and 11.15(g).  In its comment, FACDL argued that 
instruction 11.14 should not be amended to include new paragraph 3(f) because the 
statute upon which the paragraph is based—section 943.0435(2)(c), Florida 
Statutes (2015)—is unconstitutional in that it “violates the non-delegation doctrine, 
 
 
- 4 - 
is void for vagueness, and represents a deprivation of the due process of law.” 
FACDL also suggested adding a citation to the Second District Court of Appeal’s 
decision in Eveland v. State, 161 So. 3d 481 (Fla. 2d DCA 2014) to instructions 
11.14(d) and 11.15(g).  The Committee did not alter its proposals upon 
consideration of FACDL’s comment.  The Court did not publish the Committee’s 
proposals for comment.  
Having considered the Committee’s report and the comment received by the 
Committee, we amend the standard jury instructions as proposed by the Committee 
and authorize them for publication and use.  We also authorize new instructions 
11.14(i) and 11.15(m), as proposed by the Committee, for publication and use.  In 
so doing, we note that the issues raised by FACDL regarding the constitutionality 
of section 943.0435(2)(c), Florida Statutes, are beyond the scope of these 
proceedings.  To date, no court has expressly addressed the constitutional issues 
raised by FACDL regarding the current version of section 943.0435(2)(c), Florida 
Statutes, and we decline to use the instant proceedings authorizing the publication 
and use of standard jury instructions as the basis for addressing such issues.  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. 
 
 
- 5 - 
The instructions, as set forth in the appendix to this opinion, are authorized 
for publication and use.1  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.  New language is 
indicated by underlining and deleted language is indicated by struck-through type.  
The instructions as set forth in the appendix shall be effective when this opinion 
becomes final.  
It is so ordered. 
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. 
 
                                          
 
 
1.  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. 
 
 
- 6 - 
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 
 
 
 
- 7 - 
Appendix 
11.14 FAILURE BY A SEXUAL OFFENDER TO COMPLY 
WITH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS 
(Initially Register, Report, or Provide Registration Items) 
§ 943.0435(2)(a)–(bc), Fla. Stat. 
 
To prove the crime of Failure by a Sexual Offender to Comply with 
Registration Requirements, the State must prove the following three elements 
beyond a reasonable doubt: 
Give 1a or 1b as applicable. 
1. 
(Defendant) 
a. 
is a sexual offender. 
b. 
has agreed or stipulated that [he] [she] has been 
convicted as a sexual offender; therefore, you should 
consider the sexual offender status an element as 
proven by agreement of the parties. 
If the defendant offers to stipulate, the court must accept the offer after 
conducting an on-the-record colloquy with the defendant. See Brown v. State, 719 
So. 2d 882 (Fla. 1998); Johnson v. State, 842 So. 2d 228 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003).  If 
there is a stipulation, the court should not give the definition of “sexual offender” 
or “convicted.” 
2. 
(Defendant) [established] [maintained] a permanent, 
temporary, or transient residence in (name of county) 
County, Florida. 
Give 3a, 3b, 3c, or 3d, 3e, or 3f as applicable. 
3. 
(Defendant) 
a. 
knowingly failed to register in person at an office of 
the sheriff of (name of county) County within 48 hours 
after establishing permanent, temporary, or transient 
residence within this state. 
b. 
knowingly failed to report in person at an office of the 
sheriff of (name of county) County within 48 hours 
 
 
- 8 - 
after being released from the [custody, control, or 
supervision of the Florida Department of Corrections] 
[custody of a private correctional facility]. 
c. 
knowingly failed to register in person at an office of 
the sheriff of (name of county) County within 48 hours 
after having been convicted by a court in that county 
of an offense requiring registration. 
d. 
knowingly failed to provide an office of the sheriff of 
(name of county) County with [his] [her] [(name the 
single unprovided registration item charged, as worded in 
the statute)] [any one or more of the following items: 
[his] [her] (name the unprovided registration items 
charged, as worded in the statute).] 
e. 
knowingly failed to report in person at an office of the 
sheriff of (name of county) within 48 hours after any 
change in vehicles owned to report those vehicle 
information changes. 
f. 
knowingly failed to provide an office of the sheriff of 
(name of county) with (insert information, such as 
criminal and corrections records, nonprivileged personnel 
and treatment records, and evidentiary genetic markers), 
which [he] [she] knew had been deemed necessary by 
the Department of Law Enforcement and which was 
available. 
Read only if the defendant is charged with failing to provide a physical 
residential address. 
The defendant shall provide a physical residential address. A post office 
box shall not be provided in lieu of a physical residential address. 
Give if the defendant meets his or her burden of production. See Barnes v. 
State, 108 So. 3d 700 (Fla. 1st DCA 2013). 
It is a defense to the crime of Failure by a Sexual Offender to Comply 
with Registration Requirements that (defendant) attempted to comply but was 
misinformed or otherwise prevented from complying by the office of the 
sheriff. 
 
 
- 9 - 
There is no statute for the defense of being misinformed or otherwise 
prevented from registering, and the case law is silent as to (1) which party bears 
the burden of persuasion of the affirmative defense and (2) the standard for the 
burden of persuasion. Under the common law, defendants had both the burden of 
production and the burden of persuasion on an affirmative defense by a 
preponderance of the evidence. 
The Florida Supreme Court has often decided, however, that once a 
defendant meets the burden of production on an affirmative defense, the burden of 
persuasion is on the State to disprove the affirmative defense beyond a reasonable 
doubt (e.g., self-defense and consent to enter in a burglary prosecution). In the 
absence of case law, trial judges must resolve the issue via a special instruction.  
See the opinion in Dixon v. United States, 548 U.S. 1 (2006), for further guidance. 
If burden of persuasion is on the defendant: 
If you find that (defendant) proved (insert appropriate burden of 
persuasion) that the office of the sheriff misinformed [him] [her] or otherwise 
prevented [him] [her] from complying with the registration requirements, you 
should find [him] [her] not guilty. If the defendant did not prove (insert 
appropriate burden of persuasion) that the office of the sheriff misinformed 
[him] [her] or otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying, you should 
find [him] [her] guilty if all the elements of the charge have been proven 
beyond a reasonable doubt. 
Or, if the burden of disproving the affirmative defense is on the State under 
the beyond a reasonable standard: 
If you find that the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the 
office of the sheriff did not misinform (defendant) or did not otherwise prevent 
[him] [her] from complying with the registration requirements, you should 
find (defendant) guilty, if all of the elements of the charge have been proven 
beyond a reasonable doubt. However, if you have a reasonable doubt on the 
issue of whether the office of the sheriff misinformed (defendant) or otherwise 
prevented [him] [her] from complying with the registration requirements, you 
should find [him] [her] not guilty. 
Definitions.  See instruction 11.14(h) for the applicable definitions. 
Lesser Included Offenses 
 
No lesser included offenses have been identified for this offense. 
 
 
- 10 - 
Comment 
This instruction was adopted in 2008 [983 So.2d 531] and amended in 2012 
[85 So. 3d 1090], 2013 [113 So. 3d 754], and 2014 [148 So. 3d 1204], and 2016. 
 
11.14(a) FAILURE BY A SEXUAL OFFENDER TO COMPLY 
 WITH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS  
(Failure to Comply with Registration of a Residence, Motor Vehicle, Trailer, 
Mobile Home, Manufactured Home, Vessel, or Houseboat) 
§ 943.0435(2)(b)1., Fla. Stat. 
 
To prove the crime of Failure by a Sexual Offender to Comply with 
Registration Requirements, the State must prove the following three elements 
beyond a reasonable doubt: 
 
Give 1a or1b as applicable. 
1. (Defendant) 
 
a. 
is a sexual offender. 
 
b. 
has agreed or stipulated that [he] [she] has been convicted 
as a sexual offender; therefore, you should consider the 
sexual offender status element as proven by agreement of 
the parties. 
 
If the defendant offers to stipulate, the court must accept the offer after 
conducting an on-the-record colloquy with the defendant.  See Brown v. State, 719 
So. 2d 882 (Fla. 1998); Johnson v. State, 842 So. 2d 228 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003).  If 
there is a stipulation, the court should not give the definition of “sexual offender” 
or “convicted.” 
 
2. (Defendant) [established] [maintained] a permanent, temporary, 
or transient residence in (name of county) County, Florida. 
 
 
Give 3a or 3b as applicable. 
3. (Defendant) 
 
a. 
uses as [his] [her] place of residence a [motor vehicle] 
[trailer] [mobile home] [manufactured home]; 
 
 
and  
 
 
- 11 - 
 
 
knowingly failed to provide an office of the sheriff of (name 
of county) County with [the (name the single unprovided 
registration item charged, as worded in the statute)] [any one or 
more of the following items: (name the unprovided 
registration items charged, as worded in the statute)] of the 
[motor vehicle] [trailer] [mobile home] [manufactured 
home] where [he] [she] resides. 
 
b. 
uses as [his] [her] place of residence a [vessel] [live-aboard 
vessel] [houseboat]; 
 
 
and  
 
 
knowingly failed to provide an office of the sheriff of (name 
of county) County with [the (name the single unprovided 
registration item charged, as worded in the statute)] [any one or 
more of the following items: (name the unprovided 
registration items charged, as worded in the statute] of the 
[vessel] [live-aboard vessel] [houseboat] where [he] [she] 
resides. 
 
Give if the defendant meets his or her burden of production. See Barnes v. 
State, 108 So. 3d 700 (Fla. 1st DCA 2013). 
It is a defense to the crime of Failure by a Sexual Offender to Comply 
with Registration Requirements that (defendant) attempted to comply with the 
requirements but was misinformed or otherwise prevented from complying by 
the office of the sheriff.  
 
There is no statute for the defense of being misinformed or otherwise 
prevented from registering, and the case law is silent as to (1) which party bears 
the burden of persuasion of the affirmative defense and (2) the standard for the 
burden of persuasion. Under the common law, defendants had both the burden of 
production and the burden of persuasion on an affirmative defense by a 
preponderance of the evidence. 
The Florida Supreme Court has often decided, however, that once a 
defendant meets the burden of production on an affirmative defense, the burden of 
persuasion is on the State to disprove the affirmative defense beyond a reasonable 
doubt (e.g., self-defense and consent to enter in a burglary prosecution). In the 
 
 
- 12 - 
absence of case law, trial judges must resolve the issue via a special instruction.  
See the opinion in Dixon v. United States, 548 U.S. 1 (2006), for further guidance. 
 
If burden of persuasion is on the defendant:    
If you find that (defendant) proved (insert appropriate burden of 
persuasion) that the office of the sheriff misinformed [him] [her] or otherwise 
prevented [him] [her] from complying with the registration requirements, you 
should find [him] [her] not guilty. If the defendant did not prove (insert 
appropriate burden of persuasion) that the office of the sheriff misinformed 
[him] [her] or otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying, you should 
find [him] [her] guilty if all the elements of the charge have been proven 
beyond a reasonable doubt.     
    
Or, if the burden of disproving the affirmative defense is on the State under 
the beyond a reasonable standard:   
If you find that the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the 
office of the sheriff did not misinform (defendant) or did not otherwise prevent 
[him] [her] from complying with the registration requirements, you should 
find (defendant) guilty, if all of the elements of the charge have also been 
proven beyond a reasonable doubt. However, if you have a reasonable doubt 
on the issue of whether the office of the sheriff misinformed (defendant) or 
otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying with the registration 
requirements, you should find [him] [her] not guilty. 
 
Definitions.  The definitions for trailer, mobile home, and manufactured 
home are in § 320.01, Fla. Stat., and the definitions for vessel, live-aboard vessel, 
and houseboat are in § 327.02, Fla. Stat.   
 
See instruction 11.14(h) for the other applicable definitions. 
 
Lesser Included Offenses 
 
 
No lesser included offenses have been identified for this offense. 
 
Comment 
 
 
This instruction was adopted in 2008 [983 So.2d 531] and amended in 2012 
[85 So. 3d 1090], and 2014 [148 So. 3d 1204], and 2016. 
 
 
 
 
- 13 - 
11.14(b) FAILURE BY A SEXUAL OFFENDER TO COMPLY  
WITH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS 
(Failure to Comply with Registration of [Employment] or  
[Enrollment] [Volunteering] [Carrying on a Vocation] at an Institution of 
Higher Learning) 
§ 943.0435(2)(b)2., Fla. Stat. 
 
 
To prove the crime of Failure by a Sexual Offender to Comply with 
Registration Requirements, the State must prove the following three elements 
beyond a reasonable doubt: 
 
 
Give 1a or 1b as applicable. 
1. (Defendant) 
 
a. 
is a sexual offender. 
 
b. 
has agreed or stipulated that [he] [she] has been convicted 
as a sexual offender; therefore, you should consider the 
sexual offender status element as proven by agreement of 
the parties. 
 
 
If the defendant offers to stipulate, the court must accept the offer after 
conducting an on-the-record colloquy with the defendant.  See Brown v. State, 719 
So. 2d 882 (Fla. 1998); Johnson v. State, 842 So. 2d 228 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003).  If 
there is a stipulation, the court should not give the definition of “sexual offender” 
or “convicted.” 
 
2. (Defendant) [established] [maintained] a permanent, temporary, 
or transient residence in (name of county) County, Florida.   
 
 
Give 3a or 3b as applicable. 
3. (Defendant) 
 
a. 
[is] [was] enrolled, employed, volunteering, or carrying on a 
vocation at an institution of higher education in this state, 
and 
 
 
knowingly failed to provide an office of the sheriff of (name 
of county) County with [(the name the single unprovided 
registration item charged, as worded in the statute)] [any one or 
 
 
- 14 - 
more the following items: (name the unprovided registration 
items charged, as worded in the statute).]  
 
b. 
[is] [was] enrolled, employed, volunteering, or carrying on a 
vocation at an institution of higher education in this state.  
 
 
undertook a change in [his] [her] enrollment, volunteer, or 
employment status, and 
 
 
knowingly failed to report this change in person at an office 
of the sheriff of (name of county) County within 48 hours 
after the change. 
 
Give if the defendant meets his or her burden of production. See Barnes v. 
State, 108 So. 3d 700 (Fla. 1st DCA 2013). 
It is a defense to the crime of Failure by a Sexual Offender to Comply 
with Registration Requirements that (defendant) attempted to comply with the 
requirements but was misinformed or otherwise prevented from complying by 
the office of the sheriff.  
 
There is no statute for the defense of being misinformed or otherwise 
prevented from complying with registration requirements, and the case law is 
silent as to (1) which party bears the burden of persuasion of the affirmative 
defense and (2) the standard for the burden of persuasion. Under the common law, 
defendants had both the burden of production and the burden of persuasion on an 
affirmative defense by a preponderance of the evidence. 
The Florida Supreme Court has often decided, however, that once a 
defendant meets the burden of production on an affirmative defense, the burden of 
persuasion is on the State to disprove the affirmative defense beyond a reasonable 
doubt (e.g., self-defense and consent to enter in a burglary prosecution). In the 
absence of case law, trial judges must resolve the issue via a special instruction.  
See the opinion in Dixon v. United States, 548 U.S. 1 (2006), for further guidance. 
 
If burden of persuasion is on the defendant:    
 If you find that (defendant) proved (insert appropriate burden of 
persuasion) that the office of the sheriff misinformed [him] [her] or otherwise 
prevented [him] [her] from complying with the registration requirements, you 
should find [him] [her] not guilty. If the defendant did not prove (insert 
appropriate burden of persuasion) that the office of the sheriff misinformed 
[him] [her] or otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying, you should 
 
 
- 15 - 
find [him] [her] guilty if all the elements of the charge have been proven 
beyond a reasonable doubt.     
    
Or, if the burden of disproving the affirmative defense is on the State under 
the beyond a reasonable standard:   
  
If you find that the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the 
office of the sheriff did not misinform (defendant) or did not otherwise prevent 
[him] [her] from complying with the registration requirements, you should 
find [him] [her] guilty, if all of the elements of the charge have also been 
proven beyond a reasonable doubt. However, if you have a reasonable doubt 
on the issue of whether the office of the sheriff misinformed (defendant) or 
otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying with the registration 
requirements, you should find [him] [her] not guilty. 
 
Definitions.  See instruction 11.14(h) for the applicable definitions. 
 
Lesser Included Offenses 
 
 
No lesser included offenses have been identified for this offense. 
 
Comment 
 
 
This instruction was adopted in 2008 [983 So. 2d 531] and amended in 2012 
[85 So. 3d 1090], and 2014 [148 So. 3d 1204], and 2016. 
 
 
11.14(c) FAILURE BY A SEXUAL OFFENDER TO COMPLY  
WITH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS. 
(Failure to Report to Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles) 
§ 943.0435(3), Fla. Stat. 
 
 
To prove the crime of Failure by a Sexual Offender to Comply with 
Registration Requirements, the State must prove the following three elements 
beyond a reasonable doubt: 
 
 
Give 1a or 1b as applicable. 
1. (Defendant) 
 
a. 
is a sexual offender. 
 
 
 
- 16 - 
b. 
has agreed or stipulated that [he] [she] has been convicted 
as a sexual offender; therefore, you should consider the 
sexual offender status element as proven by agreement of 
the parties. 
 
 
If the defendant offers to stipulate, the court must accept the offer after 
conducting an on-the-record colloquy with the defendant.  See Brown v. State, 719 
So. 2d 882 (Fla. 1998); Johnson v. State, 842 So. 2d 228 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003).  If 
there is a stipulation, the court should not give the definition of “sexual offender” 
or “convicted.” 
 
2. (Defendant) [established] [maintained] a permanent, temporary, 
or transient residence in (name of county) County, Florida.   
 
 
 
Give 3a or 3b as applicable. 
3. (Defendant) 
 
a. 
having registered as a sexual offender with an office of the 
sheriff of (name of county) County,  
 
 
knowingly failed to report in person to a driver’s license 
office of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor 
Vehicles within 48 hours after registering to present proof 
of this registration, and 
 
knowingly failed to [secure a Florida driver’s license] 
[renew [his] [her] Florida driver’s license] [secure a Florida 
identification card]. 
 
b. 
reported in person to a driver’s license office of the 
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and 
[secured a Florida driver’s license] [renewed [his] [her] 
Florida driver’s license] [secured a Florida identification 
card], but in doing so, 
 
Give one or both of the following as applicable to the charge. 
 
i.       failed to report to that office that [he] [she] was a 
sexual offender. 
 
 
 
- 17 - 
ii. 
failed to provide that office with [(name the single 
unprovided registration item charged, as worded in the 
statute)] [any one or more of the following items: 
(name the unprovided registration items charged, as 
worded in the statute)]. 
 
Give if the defendant meets his or her burden of production. See Barnes v. 
State, 108 So. 3d 700 (Fla. 1st DCA 2013). 
It is a defense to the crime of Failure by a Sexual Offender to Comply 
with Registration Requirements that (defendant) attempted to comply with the 
requirements but was misinformed or otherwise prevented from complying by 
the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.  
 
There is no statute for the defense of being misinformed or otherwise 
prevented from complying, and the case law is silent as to (1) which party bears 
the burden of persuasion of the affirmative defense and (2) the standard for the 
burden of persuasion. Under the common law, defendants had both the burden of 
production and the burden of persuasion on an affirmative defense by a 
preponderance of the evidence. 
The Florida Supreme Court has often decided, however, that once a 
defendant meets the burden of production on an affirmative defense, the burden of 
persuasion is on the State to disprove the affirmative defense beyond a reasonable 
doubt (e.g., self-defense and consent to enter in a burglary prosecution). In the 
absence of case law, trial judges must resolve the issue via a special instruction.  
See the opinion in Dixon v. United States, 548 U.S. 1 (2006), for further guidance. 
 
If burden of persuasion is on the defendant:    
 If you find that (defendant) proved (insert appropriate burden of 
persuasion) that the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 
misinformed [him] [her] or otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying 
with the registration requirements, you should find [him] [her] not guilty. If 
the defendant did not prove (insert appropriate burden of persuasion) that the 
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles misinformed [him] [her] 
or otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying, you should find [him] 
[her] guilty if all the elements of the charge have been proven beyond a 
reasonable doubt.     
    
Or, if the burden of disproving the affirmative defense is on the State under 
the beyond a reasonable standard:   
 
 
- 18 - 
If you find that the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the 
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles did not misinform 
(defendant) or did not otherwise prevent [him] [her] from complying with the 
registration requirements, you should find [him] [her] guilty, if all of the 
elements of the charge have also been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. 
However, if you have a reasonable doubt on the issue of whether the 
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles misinformed (defendant) 
or otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying with the registration 
requirements, you should find [him] [her] not guilty.    
 
Definitions.  See instruction 11.14(h) for the applicable definitions. 
 
Lesser Included Offenses 
 
 
No lesser included offenses have been identified. 
 
Comments 
 
 
§ 943.0435(3), Fla. Stat., does not apply if a driver license or identification 
card that complies with the requirements of § 322.141(3), Fla. Stat., was previously 
secured or updated under § 944.607, Fla. Stat. If this provision of the statute is an 
issue in the case, the trial judge will have to draft a special instruction.  
 
This instruction was adopted in 2008 [983 So.2d 531] and amended in 2012 
[85 So. 3d 1090], and 2014 [148 So. 3d 1204], and 2016. 
 
 
11.14(d) FAILURE BY A SEXUAL OFFENDER TO COMPLY  
WITH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS 
 (Failure to Report Change of Name or Address within the State or 
Jurisdiction)  
§ 943.0435(4), Fla. Stat. 
 
 
To prove the crime of Failure by a Sexual Offender to Comply with 
Registration Requirements, the State must prove the following three elements 
beyond a reasonable doubt: 
 
 
Give 1a or 1b as applicable. 
1. (Defendant) 
 
 
 
- 19 - 
a. 
is a sexual offender. 
 
b. 
has agreed or stipulated that [he] [she] has been convicted 
as a sexual offender; therefore, you should consider the 
sexual offender status element as proven by agreement of 
the parties. 
 
 
If the defendant offers to stipulate, the court must accept the offer after 
conducting an on-the-record colloquy with the defendant.  See Brown v. State, 719 
So. 2d 882 (Fla. 1998); Johnson v. State, 842 So. 2d 228 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003).  If 
there is a stipulation, the court should not give the definition of “sexual offender” 
or “convicted.” 
 
2. (Defendant) [established] [maintained] a permanent, temporary, 
or transient residence in (name of county) County, Florida. 
 
 
Give 3a, or 3b, or 3c, or 3d as applicable. 
3. (Defendant) 
 
a. 
knowingly failed to report in person to a driver’s license 
office of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor 
Vehicles,  
 
 
Give i, ii, or iii as applicable. 
i. 
when [his] [her] [driver’s license] [identification card] 
was subject to renewal.  
 
ii. 
within 48 hours after any change in [his] [her] 
permanent, temporary, or transient residence. 
 
iii. 
within 48 hours after any change in [his] [her] name 
by reason of [marriage] [(specify other legal process)]. 
 
b. 
knowingly failed to report in person to an office of the 
sheriff of  (name of county) County, within 48 hours of 
vacating [his] [her] permanent residence and failing to 
[establish] [maintain] another [permanent] [temporary] 
[transient] residence.  
 
 
 
- 20 - 
c. 
knowingly failed to report in person to an office of the 
sheriff of  (name of county) County that [he] [she] remained 
at [his] [her] permanent residence, within 48 hours after 
[he] [she] reported to the sheriff [his] [her] intent to vacate 
[his] [her] permanent residence. 
 
d. 
reported to  
 
Give i or ii as applicable. 
i. 
an office of the sheriff of (name of county) County  
 
ii. 
a driver’s license office of the Department of Highway 
Safety and Motor Vehicles 
 
 
 
 
and 
 
 
 
 
Give iii or iv as applicable. 
iii. 
knowingly failed to provide that office with (name the 
single unprovided registration item charged, as worded in 
the statute).  
 
iv. 
knowingly failed to provide that office with any one or 
more of the following items: (name the unprovided 
registration items charged, as worded in the statute). 
 
Give if the defendant meets his or her burden of production. See Barnes v. 
State, 108 So. 3d 700 (Fla. 1st DCA 2013). 
It is a defense to the crime of Failure by a Sexual Offender to Comply 
with Registration Requirements that (defendant) attempted to comply with the 
requirements but was misinformed or otherwise prevented from complying by 
the [office of the sheriff] [Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles].  
 
There is no statute for the defense of being misinformed or otherwise 
prevented from registering, and the case law is silent as to (1) which party bears 
the burden of persuasion of the affirmative defense and (2) the standard for the 
burden of persuasion. Under the common law, defendants had both the burden of 
production and the burden of persuasion on an affirmative defense by a 
preponderance of the evidence. 
The Florida Supreme Court has often decided, however, that once a 
defendant meets the burden of production on an affirmative defense, the burden of 
 
 
- 21 - 
persuasion is on the State to disprove the affirmative defense beyond a reasonable 
doubt (e.g., self-defense and consent to enter in a burglary prosecution). In the 
absence of case law, trial judges must resolve the issue via a special instruction.  
See the opinion in Dixon v. United States, 548 U.S. 1 (2006), for further guidance. 
 
If burden of persuasion is on the defendant:    
 If you find that (defendant) proved (insert appropriate burden of 
persuasion) that the [office of the sheriff] [Department of Highway Safety and 
Motor Vehicles] misinformed [him] [her] or otherwise prevented [him] [her] 
from complying with the registration requirements, you should find [him] 
[her] not guilty. If the defendant did not prove (insert appropriate burden of 
persuasion) that the[office of the sheriff]  [Department of Highway Safety and 
Motor Vehicles] misinformed [him] [her] or otherwise prevented [him] [her] 
from complying, you should find [him] [her] guilty if all the elements of the 
charge have been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.     
    
Or, if the burden of disproving the affirmative defense is on the State under 
the beyond a reasonable standard:   
If you find that the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the 
[office of the sheriff] [Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles] did 
not misinform (defendant) or did not otherwise prevent [him] [her] from 
complying with the registration requirements, you should find [him] [her] 
guilty, if all of the elements of the charge have also been proven beyond a 
reasonable doubt. However, if you have a reasonable doubt on the issue of 
whether the [office of the sheriff] [Department of Highway Safety and Motor 
Vehicles] misinformed (defendant) or otherwise prevented [him] [her] from 
complying with the registration requirements, you should find [him] [her] not 
guilty.    
 
Definitions.  See instruction 11.14(h) for the applicable definitions. 
 
Lesser Included Offenses 
 
 
No lesser included offenses have been identified. 
 
 
 
- 22 - 
Comments 
 
 
§ 943.0435(4)(a), Fla. Stat., requires sexual offenders to report certain 
changes to the sheriff’s office within 48 hours of the change, even if unable to 
secure or update a driver license or identification card. In those instances, a special 
instruction will be needed.  
 
This instruction was adopted in 2008 [983 So.2d 531] and amended in 2012 
[85 So. 3d 1090], and 2014 [148 So. 3d 1204], and 2016. 
 
 
11.14(e) FAILURE BY A SEXUAL OFFENDER TO COMPLY  
WITH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS 
(Failure to Report Change of Residence to Another State or 
Jurisdiction or Country) 
§ 943.0435(7), Fla. Stat. 
 
To prove the crime of Failure by a Sexual Offender to Comply with 
Registration Requirements, the State must prove the following [four] [five] 
elements beyond a reasonable doubt: 
 
Give 1a or 1b as applicable. 
1. (Defendant)  
 
a. 
is a sexual offender.  
 
b. 
has agreed or stipulated that [he] [she] has been convicted 
as a sexual offender; therefore, you should consider the 
sexual offender status element as proven by agreement of 
the parties. 
 
 
If the defendant offers to stipulate, the court must accept the offer after 
conducting an on-the-record colloquy with the defendant.  See Brown v. State, 719 
So. 2d 882 (Fla. 1998); Johnson v. State, 842 So. 2d 228 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003).  If 
there is a stipulation, the court should not give the definition of “sexual offender” 
or “convicted.” 
 
2. (Defendant) [established] [maintained] a permanent, temporary, 
or transient residence in (name of county) County, Florida. 
 
 
 
- 23 - 
3. (Defendant) intended to leave this State to establish residence in 
another [state] or[jurisdiction] [country] on (date). 
 
 
Give element 4 or 5, or both, as applicable. 
4. a.  (Defendant) knowingly failed to report in person to an office of 
the sheriff in the county of [his] [her] current residence within 48 
hours before the date on which [he] [she] intended to leave this 
state to establish residence in another state or jurisdiction within 
the United States. 
 
b.  (Defendant) knowingly failed to report in person to an office of 
the sheriff in the county of [his] [her] current residence within 21 
days before the date on which [he] [she] intended to leave this 
state to establish residence for 5 days or more outside the United 
States. 
 
5.c. (Defendant) knowingly failed to provide the [address, 
municipality, county, and state] [address and country] of [his] 
[her] intended address, when [he] [she] reported to the sheriff’s 
office of the county of [his] [her] current residence [his] [her] 
intention to establish residence in another [state] or[jurisdiction] 
[country]. 
 
Give if the defendant meets his or her burden of production. See Barnes v. 
State, 108 So. 3d 700 (Fla. 1st DCA 2013). 
It is a defense to the crime of Failure by a Sexual Offender to Comply 
with Registration Requirements that (defendant) attempted to comply with the 
requirements but was misinformed or otherwise prevented from complying by 
the office of the sheriff.   
 
There is no statute for the defense of being misinformed or otherwise 
prevented from registering, and the case law is silent as to (1) which party bears 
the burden of persuasion of the affirmative defense and (2) the standard for the 
burden of persuasion. Under the common law, defendants had both the burden of 
production and the burden of persuasion on an affirmative defense by a 
preponderance of the evidence. 
The Florida Supreme Court has often decided, however, that once a 
defendant meets the burden of production on an affirmative defense, the burden of 
persuasion is on the State to disprove the affirmative defense beyond a reasonable 
doubt (e.g., self-defense and consent to enter in a burglary prosecution). In the 
 
 
- 24 - 
absence of case law, trial judges must resolve the issue via a special instruction.  
See the opinion in Dixon v. United States, 548 U.S. 1 (2006), for further guidance. 
 
If burden of persuasion is on the defendant:    
 If you find that (defendant) proved (insert appropriate burden of 
persuasion) that the office of the sheriff misinformed [him] [her] or otherwise 
prevented [him] [her] from complying with the registration requirements, you 
should find [him] [her] not guilty. If the defendant did not prove (insert 
appropriate burden of persuasion) that the office of the sheriff misinformed 
[him] [her] or otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying, you should 
find [him] [her] guilty if all the elements of the charge have been proven 
beyond a reasonable doubt.     
    
Or, if the burden of disproving the affirmative defense is on the State under 
the beyond a reasonable standard:   
If you find that the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the 
office of the sheriff did not misinform (defendant) or did not otherwise prevent 
[him] [her] from complying with the registration requirements, you should 
find [him] [her] guilty, if all of the elements of the charge have also been 
proven beyond a reasonable doubt. However, if you have a reasonable doubt 
on the issue of whether the office of the sheriff misinformed (defendant) or 
otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying with the registration 
requirements, you should find [him] [her] not guilty.    
 
Definitions.  See instruction 11.14(h) for the applicable definitions. 
 
Lesser Included Offenses 
 
 
No lesser included offenses have been identified for this offense. 
 
Comment 
 
 
This instruction was adopted in 2008 [983 So.2d 531] and amended in 2012 
[85 So. 3d 1090], and 2014 [148 So. 3d 1204], and 2016. 
 
 
 
 
- 25 - 
11.14(g) FAILURE BY A SEXUAL OFFENDER TO COMPLY  
WITH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS 
(Failure to Report Twice a Year/Failure to Report Quarterly/Providing 
False Information)  
§ 943.0435(14)(a) or (b), Fla. Stat. 
 
Give this statement if the charge is failure to report twice a year during the 
sexual offender’s birthday month and six months later pursuant to 
§ 943.0435(14)(a), Fla. Stat., or, for certain specified violators, failure to report 
during the sexual offender’s birthday month and every third month thereafter 
pursuant to § 943.0435(14)(b), Fla. Stat. 
 
To prove the crime of Failure by a Sexual Offender to Comply with 
Registration Requirements, the State must prove the following three elements 
beyond a reasonable doubt: 
 
Give 1a or 1b as applicable if § 943.0435(14)(a), Fla. Stat., is charged. 
1. 
(Defendant) 
a. 
is a sexual offender. 
b. 
has agreed or stipulated that [he] [she] has been 
convicted as a sexual offender; therefore, you should 
consider the sexual offender status element as proven 
by agreement of the parties. 
Give 1c or 1d as applicable if § 943.0435(14)(b), Fla. Stat., is charged. 
c. 
is a sexual offender and is required to report and 
reregister as a result of a conviction for (insert relevant 
factor in § 943.0435(14)(b)1.–(14)(b)10., Fla. Stat.). 
d. 
has agreed or stipulated that [he] [she] has been 
convicted as a sexual offender and that [he] [she] is 
required by law to  report in person during [his] [her] 
birthday month and reregister every third month 
following [his] [her] (year) birthday month to an office 
of the sheriff in the county in which [he] [she] resides 
or is otherwise located. 
 
 
- 26 - 
If the defendant offers to stipulate, the court must accept the offer after 
conducting an on-the-record colloquy with the defendant. See Brown v. State, 719 
So. 2d 882 (Fla. 1998); Johnson v. State, 842 So. 2d 228 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003).  If 
there is a stipulation, the court should not give the definition of “sexual offender” 
or “convicted.” 
2. 
(Defendant) [established] [maintained] a permanent, 
temporary, or transient residence in (name of county) 
County, Florida. 
Give 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, or 3e, 3f, or 3g as applicable. 
3. 
(Defendant) 
a. 
knowingly failed to reregister by reporting in person 
during [his] [her] birthday month in (year) to an office 
of the sheriff in the county in which [he] [she] resides 
or is otherwise located. 
b. 
knowingly failed to reregister by reporting in person 
during the sixth month following [his] [her] (year) 
birthday month to an office of the sheriff in the 
county in which [he] [she] resides or is otherwise 
located. 
c. 
knowingly failed to reregister by reporting in person 
during every third month following [his] [her] (year) 
birthday month to an office of the sheriff in the 
county in which [he] [she] resides or is otherwise 
located. 
d. 
knowingly failed to respond to the address 
verification correspondence from the Florida 
Department of Law Enforcement within three weeks 
from the date of the correspondence. 
e. 
reported to an office of the sheriff of (name of county) 
to reregister,  
and 
Give i or ii as applicable. 
 
 
- 27 - 
i. 
knowingly failed to provide that office with (name the 
single unprovided registration item charged, as worded in 
the statute). 
ii. 
knowingly failed to provide that office with any one or 
more of the following items: (name the unprovided 
registration items charged, as worded in the statute). 
f. 
knowingly failed to report all [electronic mail 
addresses] [and] [or] [all internet identifiers].  
g. 
knowingly provided false registration information by 
act or omission. 
Read only if the defendant is charged with failing to provide a physical 
residential address. 
The defendant shall provide a physical residential address. A post office 
box shall not be provided in lieu of a physical residential address. 
Give if the defendant meets his or her burden of production. See Barnes v. 
State, 108 So. 3d 700 (Fla. 1st DCA 2013). 
It is a defense to the crime of Failure by a Sexual Offender to Comply 
with Registration Requirements that (defendant) attempted to comply with the 
requirements but was misinformed or otherwise prevented from complying by 
the office of the sheriff. 
There is no statute for the defense of being misinformed or otherwise 
prevented from registering, and the case law is silent as to (1) which party bears 
the burden of persuasion of the affirmative defense and (2) the standard for the 
burden of persuasion. Under the common law, defendants had both the burden of 
production and the burden of persuasion on an affirmative defense by a 
preponderance of the evidence. 
The Florida Supreme Court has often decided, however, that once a 
defendant meets the burden of production on an affirmative defense, the burden of 
persuasion is on the State to disprove the affirmative defense beyond a reasonable 
doubt (e.g., self-defense and consent to enter in a burglary prosecution). In the 
absence of case law, trial judges must resolve the issue via a special instruction.  
See the opinion in Dixon v. United States, 548 U.S. 1 (2006), for further guidance. 
If burden of persuasion is on the defendant: 
 
 
- 28 - 
If you find that (defendant) proved (insert appropriate burden of 
persuasion) that the [office of the sheriff] [Florida Department of Law 
Enforcement] misinformed [him] [her] or otherwise prevented [him] [her] 
from complying with the registration requirements, you should find [him] 
[her] not guilty. If the defendant did not prove (insert appropriate burden of 
persuasion) that the [office of the sheriff] [Florida Department of Law 
Enforcement] misinformed [him] [her] or otherwise prevented [him] [her] 
from complying, you should find [him] [her] guilty if all the elements of the 
charge have been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. 
Or, if the burden of disproving the affirmative defense is on the State under 
the beyond a reasonable standard: 
If you find that the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the 
[office of the sheriff] [Florida Department of Law Enforcement] did not 
misinform (defendant) or did not otherwise prevent [him] [her] from 
complying with the registration requirements, you should find [him] [her] 
guilty, if all of the elements of the charge have also been proven beyond a 
reasonable doubt. However, if you have a reasonable doubt on the issue of 
whether the [office of the sheriff] [Florida Department of Law Enforcement] 
misinformed (defendant) or otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying, 
with the registration requirements, you should find [him] [her] not guilty.    
Definitions.  See instruction 11.14(h) for the applicable definitions. 
Lesser Included Offenses 
No lesser included offenses have been identified for this offense. 
Comments 
This instruction covers some of the ways a defendant can violate 
§ 943.0435(14), Fla. Stat. There are other possibilities within the statute that will 
require a special instruction. 
This instruction was adopted in 2008 [983 So. 2d 531] and amended in 2012 
[85 So. 3d 1090], 2013 [113 So. 3d 754], and 2014 [140 So. 3d 1204], and 2016. 
 
 
 
 
- 29 - 
11.14(h) SEXUAL OFFENDER DEFINITIONS 
§ 943.0435(1), Fla. Stat. 
 
 
Definitions. 
 
“Sexual offender” means a person who (Insert the appropriate criteria 
specified by § 943.0435(1)), Fla. Stat. 
 
 
“Convicted” means there has been a determination of guilt as a result of 
a trial or the entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, regardless of 
whether adjudication is withheld.  (Note to Judge: For juvenile, military, federal 
and out of state convictions see § 943.0435(1), Fla. Stat.) 
 
 
“Institution of higher education” means a career center, community 
college, college, state university, or independent postsecondary institution. 
 
 
“Change in enrollment or employment status” means the 
commencement or termination of enrollment or employment or a change in 
location of enrollment or employment. 
 
“Physical residential address” does not include a post office box, but 
may be a location that has no specific street address.  
 
 
“Permanent residence” means a place where the person abides, lodges, 
or resides for 5 or more consecutive days. 
 
 
“Temporary residence” means a place where the person abides, lodges, 
or resides, including, but not limited to, vacation, business, or personal travel 
destinations in or out of this state, for a period of 5 or more days in the 
aggregate during any calendar year and which is not the person’s permanent 
address or, for a person whose permanent residence is not in this state, a place 
where the person is employed, practices a vocation, or is enrolled as a student 
for any period of time in this state. 
 
 
“Transient residence” means a place or county where a person lives, 
remains, or is located for a period of 5 or more days in the aggregate during a 
calendar year and which is not the person’s permanent or temporary address. 
The term includes, but is not limited to, a place where the person sleeps or 
seeks shelter and a location that has no specific street address.   
 
 
 
- 30 - 
“Electronic mail address” means a destination, commonly expressed as 
a string of characters, to which electronic mail may be sent or delivered.  
 
“Instant message name” means an identifier that allows a person to 
communicate in real time with another person using the Internet. 
 
“Internet identifier” means all electronic mail, chat, instant messenger, 
social networking, application software, or similar names used for Internet 
communication, but does not include a date of birth, social security number, 
or personal identification number (PIN). 
 
“Vehicles owned” means any motor vehicle which is registered, 
coregistered, leased, titled, or rented by a sexual predator or sexual offender; 
a rented vehicle that a sexual predator or sexual offender is authorized to 
drive; or a vehicle for which a sexual predator or sexual offender is insured as 
a driver. The term also includes any motor vehicle which is registered, 
coregistered, leased, titled, or rented by a person or persons residing at a 
sexual predator’s or sexual offender’s permanent residence for 5 or more 
consecutive days. 
 
“Motor vehicle” means an automobile, motorcycle, truck, trailer, 
semitrailer, truck tractor and semitrailer combination, or any other vehicle 
operated on the roads of this state, used to transport persons or property, and 
propelled by power other than muscular power [but the term does not include 
traction engines, road rollers, special mobile equipment, vehicles that run only 
upon a track, bicycles, swamp buggies, or mopeds]. 
 
[“Motor vehicle” includes a recreational vehicle-type unit primarily 
designed as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use, 
which either has its own motive power or is mounted on or drawn by another 
vehicle.] 
 
 
Comment 
 
 
This instruction was adopted in 2008 [983 So. 2d 531] and revisedamended 
in 2012 [85 So. 3d 1090], and 2013 [113 So. 3d 754], and 2016. 
 
 
 
 
- 31 - 
11.14(i) FAILURE BY A SEXUAL OFFENDER TO COMPLY  
WITH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS 
(Failure to Report Every 30 Days for Transient Residences)  
§ 943.0435(4)(b)2. and § 943.0435(4)(d), Fla. Stat. 
 
Give this if the charge is failure to report every 30 days after registering 
with information regarding a transient residence.  
 
To prove the crime of Failure by a Sexual Offender to Comply with 
Registration Requirements, the State must prove the following three elements 
beyond a reasonable doubt: 
 
Give 1a or 1b as applicable. 
1. (Defendant) 
 
a. is a sexual offender. 
 
b. has agreed or stipulated that [he] [she] has been convicted 
as a sexual offender; therefore, you should consider the 
sexual offender status element as proven by agreement of 
the parties. 
 
 
If the defendant offers to stipulate, the court must accept the offer after 
conducting an on-the-record colloquy with the defendant. See Brown v. State, 719 
So. 2d 882 (Fla. 1998); Johnson v. State, 842 So. 2d 228 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003). If 
there is a stipulation, the court should not give the definition of “sexual offender” 
or “convicted.” 
 
2. (Defendant) established a transient residence in (name of county) 
County, Florida. 
 
3.  (Defendant) knowingly failed to report the address and location 
where [he] [she] maintained a transient residence, in person, to 
the office of the sheriff in the county in which [he] [she] 
maintained a transient residence, every 30 days after [he] [she] 
initially reported to the sheriff that [he] [she] had established a 
transient residence. 
 
Read only if the defendant is charged with failing to provide a 
physical residential address. 
 
 
- 32 - 
The defendant shall provide a physical residential address. 
A post office box shall not be provided in lieu of a physical 
residential address. 
 
Give if the defendant meets his or her burden of production. See Barnes v. 
State, 108 So. 3d 700 (Fla. 1st DCA 2013). 
It is a defense to the crime of Failure by a Sexual Offender to Comply 
with Registration Requirements that (defendant) attempted to comply with the 
requirements but was misinformed or otherwise prevented from complying by 
the office of the sheriff.  
 
There is no statute for the defense of being misinformed or otherwise 
prevented from registering, and the case law is silent as to (1) which party bears 
the burden of persuasion of the affirmative defense and (2) the standard for the 
burden of persuasion. Under the common law, defendants had both the burden of 
production and the burden of persuasion on an affirmative defense by a 
preponderance of the evidence. 
The Florida Supreme Court has often decided, however, that once a 
defendant meets the burden of production on an affirmative defense, the burden of 
persuasion is on the State to disprove the affirmative defense beyond a reasonable 
doubt (e.g., self-defense and consent to enter in a burglary prosecution). In the 
absence of case law, trial judges must resolve the issue via a special instruction.  
See the opinion in Dixon v. United States, 548 U.S. 1 (2006), for further guidance. 
 
If burden of persuasion is on the defendant:    
 If you find that (defendant) proved (insert appropriate burden of 
persuasion) that the [office of the sheriff] [Florida Department of Law 
Enforcement] misinformed [him] [her] or otherwise prevented [him] [her] 
from complying with the registration requirements, you should find [him] 
[her] not guilty. If the defendant did not prove (insert appropriate burden of 
persuasion) that the [office of the sheriff] [Florida Department of Law 
Enforcement] misinformed [him] [her] or otherwise prevented [him] [her] 
from complying, you should find [him] [her] guilty if all the elements of the 
charge have been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.    
  
Or, if the burden of disproving the affirmative defense is on the State under 
the beyond a reasonable doubt standard:   
If you find that the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the 
[office of the sheriff] [Florida Department of Law Enforcement] did not 
misinform (defendant) or did not otherwise prevent [him] [her] from 
 
 
- 33 - 
complying with the registration requirements, you should find [him] [her] 
guilty, if all of the elements of the charge have also been proven beyond a 
reasonable doubt. However, if you have a reasonable doubt on the issue of 
whether the [office of the sheriff] [Florida Department of Law Enforcement] 
misinformed (defendant) or otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying 
with the registration requirements, you should find [him] [her] not guilty.    
 
Definitions. See instruction 11.14(h) for the applicable definitions. 
 
Lesser Included Offenses 
 
No lesser included offenses have been identified for this offense. 
 
Comment 
 
This instruction was adopted in 2016. 
 
 
11.15 FAILURE TO REGISTER AS A SEXUAL PREDATOR 
(Initially Register – In Custody, Control or under the Supervision of the 
 Department of Corrections) 
§ 775.21(6)(b), Fla. Stat. 
 
To prove the crime of Failure to Register as a Sexual Predator, the State 
must prove the following three elements beyond a reasonable doubt: 
 
Give 1a or 1b as applicable. 
1. 
(Defendant) 
 
 
a. 
is a sexual predator.  
 
b. 
has agreed or stipulated that [he] [she] has been convicted 
as a sexual predator; therefore, you should consider the 
sexual predator status element as proven by agreement of 
the parties. 
 
 
If the defendant offers to stipulate, the court must accept the offer after 
conducting an on-the-record colloquy with the defendant.  See Brown v. State, 719 
So. 2d 882 (Fla. 1998); Johnson v. State, 842 So. 2d 228 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003).  If 
 
 
- 34 - 
there is a stipulation, the court should not give the definition of “sexual predator” 
or “convicted.” 
 
 
2. 
(Defendant) is [in the custody or control of the Department of 
Corrections] [under the supervision of the Department of 
Corrections] [in the custody of a private correctional 
facility][under the supervision of the Department of Corrections, 
but not incarcerated]. 
 
3. 
(Defendant) [knowingly failed to register with the Department of 
Corrections as a sexual predator][knowingly failed to register 
with the Department of Corrections within 3 business days of 
having been classified by a judge as a sexual predator].  
 
Give if the defendant meets his or her burden of production. See Barnes v. 
State, 108 So. 3d 700 (Fla. 1st DCA 2013). 
It is a defense to the crime of Failure to Register as a Sexual Predator 
that (defendant) attempted to register as required by law but was misinformed 
or otherwise prevented from timely registering by the Department of 
Corrections.  
 
There is no statute for the defense of being misinformed or otherwise 
prevented from registering, and the case law is silent as to (1) which party bears 
the burden of persuasion of the affirmative defense and (2) the standard for the 
burden of persuasion. Under the common law, defendants had both the burden of 
production and the burden of persuasion on an affirmative defense by a 
preponderance of the evidence. 
The Florida Supreme Court has often decided, however, that once a 
defendant meets the burden of production on an affirmative defense, the burden of 
persuasion is on the State to disprove the affirmative defense beyond a reasonable 
doubt (e.g., self-defense and consent to enter in a burglary prosecution). In the 
absence of case law, trial judges must resolve the issue via a special instruction.  
See the opinion in Dixon v. United States, 548 U.S. 1 (2006), for further guidance. 
 
If burden of persuasion is on the defendant:    
 If you find that (defendant) proved (insert appropriate burden of 
persuasion) that the Department of Corrections misinformed [him] [her] or 
otherwise prevented [him] [her] from registering, you should find [him] [her] 
not guilty. If the defendant did not prove (insert appropriate burden of 
persuasion) that the Department of Corrections misinformed [him] [her] or 
 
 
- 35 - 
otherwise prevented [him] [her] from registering, you should find [him] [her] 
guilty if all the elements of the charge have been proven beyond a reasonable 
doubt.     
    
Or, if the burden of disproving the affirmative defense is on the State under 
the beyond a reasonable standard:   
If you find that the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the 
Department of Corrections did not misinform (defendant) or did not otherwise 
prevent [him] [her] from registering, you should find [him] [her] guilty, if all 
of the elements of the charge have also been proven beyond a reasonable 
doubt. However, if you have a reasonable doubt on the issue of whether the 
Department of Corrections misinformed (defendant) or otherwise prevented 
[him] [her] from registering, you should find [him] [her] not guilty.    
 
Definitions.  See instruction 11.15(l) for the applicable definitions. 
 
Lesser Included Offenses  
 
 
No lesser included offenses have been identified for this offense. 
 
Comment 
 
 
This instruction was adopted in 2008 [983 So. 2d 531] and amended in 2014 
[148 So. 3d 1204], and 2016. 
 
 
11.15(b) FAILURE BY A SEXUAL PREDATOR TO COMPLY WITH 
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS (Failure to Provide Required 
Information) 
§ 775.21(6)(a)1., Fla. Stat.   
 
To prove the crime of Failure by a Sexual Predator to Comply with 
Registration Requirements, the State must prove the following three elements 
beyond a reasonable doubt: 
Give 1a or 1b as applicable. 
1. (Defendant) 
 
a. 
is a sexual predator. 
 
 
 
- 36 - 
b. 
has agreed or stipulated that [he] [she] has been convicted 
as a sexual predator; therefore, you should consider the 
sexual predator status element as proven by agreement of 
the parties. 
 
 
If the defendant offers to stipulate, the court must accept the offer after 
conducting an on-the-record colloquy with the defendant.  See Brown v. State, 719 
So. 2d 882 (Fla. 1998); Johnson v. State, 842 So. 2d 228 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003).  If 
there is a stipulation, the court should not give the definition of “sexual predator” 
or “convicted.” 
2. (Defendant) established or maintained a permanent, temporary, or 
transient residence in (name of county) County, Florida. 
 
Give 3a or 3b as applicable. 
 
 
§ 775.21(6)(a)1., Fla. Stat. 
3. 
a. (Defendant) knowingly failed to provide an office of the 
sheriff of (name of county) County with [his] [her] [(name the 
single unprovided registration item charged, as worded in the 
statute)] [any one or more of the following items: [his] [her] 
(name the unprovided registration items charged, as worded in 
the statute)]. 
 
 
§ 775.21(6)(a)1.c., Fla. Stat.   
b. (Defendant) knowingly failed to provide an office of the 
sheriff of (name of county) within 48 hours after a change in 
vehicles owned to report those vehicle information changes.  
 
Read only if the defendant is charged with failing to provide a physical 
residential address. 
The defendant shall provide a physical residential address.  A post office 
box shall not be provided in lieu of a physical residential address. 
 
Give if the defendant meets his or her burden of production. See Barnes v. 
State, 108 So. 3d 700 (Fla. 1st DCA 2013). 
It is a defense to the crime of Failure by a Sexual Predator to Comply 
with Registration Requirements that (defendant) attempted to comply with the 
requirements but was misinformed or otherwise prevented from complying by 
the office of the sheriff.  
 
 
- 37 - 
 
There is no statute for the defense of being misinformed or otherwise 
prevented from registering, and the case law is silent as to (1) which party bears 
the burden of persuasion of the affirmative defense and (2) the standard for the 
burden of persuasion. Under the common law, defendants had both the burden of 
production and the burden of persuasion on an affirmative defense by a 
preponderance of the evidence. 
The Florida Supreme Court has often decided, however, that once a 
defendant meets the burden of production on an affirmative defense, the burden of 
persuasion is on the State to disprove the affirmative defense beyond a reasonable 
doubt (e.g., self-defense and consent to enter in a burglary prosecution). In the 
absence of case law, trial judges must resolve the issue via a special instruction.  
See the opinion in Dixon v. United States, 548 U.S. 1 (2006), for further guidance. 
 
If burden of persuasion is on the defendant:    
 If you find that (defendant) proved (insert appropriate burden of 
persuasion) that the office of the sheriff misinformed [him] [her] or otherwise 
prevented [him] [her] from complying with the registration requirements, you 
should find [him] [her] not guilty. If the defendant did not prove (insert 
appropriate burden of persuasion) that the office of the sheriff misinformed 
[him] [her] or otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying, you should 
find [him] [her] guilty if all the elements of the charge have been proven 
beyond a reasonable doubt. 
 
Or, if the burden of disproving the affirmative defense is on the State under 
the beyond a reasonable standard: 
 
If you find that the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the 
office of the sheriff did not misinform (defendant) or did not otherwise prevent 
[him] [her] from complying with the registration requirements, you should 
find [him] [her] guilty, if all of the elements of the charge have also been 
proven beyond a reasonable doubt. However, if you have a reasonable doubt 
on the issue of whether the office of the sheriff misinformed (defendant) or 
otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying with the registration 
requirements, you should find [him] [her] not guilty. 
 
Definitions.  See instruction 11.15(l) for the applicable definitions. 
 
 
 
- 38 - 
Lesser Included Offenses  
 
 
No lesser included offenses have been identified for this offense. 
 
Comment 
 
 
This instruction was adopted in 2008 [983 So. 2d 531] and amended in 2012 
[85 So. 2d 1090], 2013 [113 So. 3d 754], and 2014 [148 So. 3d 1204], and 2016. 
 
 
11.15(c) FAILURE BY A SEXUAL PREDATOR TO COMPLY 
 WITH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS 
(Failure to Comply with Registration of a Residence, Motor Vehicle,  
Trailer, Mobile Home, or Manufactured Home) 
§775.21(6)(a)1.a., Fla. Stat. 
 
To prove the crime of Failure by a Sexual Predator to Comply with 
Registration Requirements, the State must prove the following three elements 
beyond a reasonable doubt: 
 
Give 1a or 1b as applicable. 
1. (Defendant) 
 
a. 
is a sexual predator. 
 
b. 
has agreed or stipulated that [he] [she] has been convicted 
as a sexual predator; therefore, you should consider the 
sexual predator status element as proven by agreement of 
the parties. 
 
 
If the defendant offers to stipulate, the court must accept the offer after 
conducting an on-the-record colloquy with the defendant.  See Brown v. State, 719 
So. 2d 882 (Fla. 1998); Johnson v. State, 842 So. 2d 228 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003).  If 
there is a stipulation, the court should not give the definition of “sexual predator” 
or “convicted.” 
 
2. (Defendant) established or maintained a permanent, temporary, or 
transient residence in (name of county) County, Florida. 
 
 
Give 3a or 3b as applicable. 
 
 
- 39 - 
3. (Defendant)  
 
a. 
used as [his] [her] place of residence a [motor vehicle] 
[trailer] [mobile home] [manufactured home]; 
 
 
and  
 
 
knowingly failed to provide an office of the sheriff of (name 
of county) County with [the (name the single unprovided 
registration item charged, as worded in the statute)] [any one or 
more of the following items: (name the unprovided 
registration items charged, as worded in the statute)]of the 
[motor vehicle] [trailer] [mobile home] [manufactured 
home] where [he] [she] resides. 
 
b. 
used as [his] [her] place of residence a [vessel] [live-aboard 
vessel] [houseboat]; 
 
 
and  
 
 
knowingly failed to provide an office of the sheriff of (name 
of the county) County with [the (name the single unprovided 
registration item charged, as worded in the statute)] [any one or 
more of the following items: (name the unprovided 
registration items charged, as worded in the statute)] of the 
[vessel] [live-aboard vessel] [houseboat] where [he] [she] 
resides. 
 
Give if the defendant meets his or her burden of production. See Barnes v. 
State, 108 So. 3d 700 (Fla. 1st DCA 2013). 
It is a defense to the crime of Failure by a Sexual Predator to Comply 
with Registration Requirements that (defendant) attempted to comply with the 
requirements but was misinformed or otherwise prevented from complying by 
the office of the sheriff.  
 
There is no statute for the defense of being misinformed or otherwise 
prevented from registering, and the case law is silent as to (1) which party bears 
the burden of persuasion of the affirmative defense and (2) the standard for the 
burden of persuasion. Under the common law, defendants had both the burden of 
 
 
- 40 - 
production and the burden of persuasion on an affirmative defense by a 
preponderance of the evidence. 
The Florida Supreme Court has often decided, however, that once a 
defendant meets the burden of production on an affirmative defense, the burden of 
persuasion is on the State to disprove the affirmative defense beyond a reasonable 
doubt (e.g., self-defense and consent to enter in a burglary prosecution). In the 
absence of case law, trial judges must resolve the issue via a special instruction.  
See the opinion in Dixon v. United States, 548 U.S. 1 (2006), for further guidance. 
 
If burden of persuasion is on the defendant:    
 If you find that (defendant) proved (insert appropriate burden of 
persuasion) that the office of the sheriff misinformed [him] [her] or otherwise 
prevented [him] [her] from complying with the registration requirements, you 
should find [him] [her] not guilty. If the defendant did not prove (insert 
appropriate burden of persuasion) that the office of the sheriff misinformed 
[him] [her] or otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying, you should 
find [him] [her] guilty if all the elements of the charge have been proven 
beyond a reasonable doubt. 
 
Or, if the burden of disproving the affirmative defense is on the State under 
the beyond a reasonable standard: 
If you find that the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the 
office of the sheriff did not misinform (defendant) or did not otherwise prevent 
[him] [her] from complying with the registration requirements, you should 
find [him] [her] guilty, if all of the elements of the charge have also been 
proven beyond a reasonable doubt. However, if you have a reasonable doubt 
on the issue of whether the office of the sheriff misinformed (defendant) or 
otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying with the registration 
requirements, you should find [him] [her] not guilty. 
 
Definitions. See instruction 11.15(l) for the applicable definitions. The 
definitions for trailer, mobile home, and manufactured home are in § 320.01, Fla. 
Stat., and the definitions for vessel, live-aboard vessel, and houseboat are in § 
327.02, Fla. Stat. 
 
Lesser Included Offenses 
 
 
No lesser included offenses have been identified for this offense. 
 
 
 
- 41 - 
Comment 
 
 
This instruction was adopted in 2008 [983 So.2d 531] and amended in 2012 
[85 So. 3d 1090], and 2014 [148 So. 3d 1204], and 2016. 
 
 
11.15(d) FAILURE BY A SEXUAL PREDATOR TO COMPLY 
 WITH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS 
(Failure to Comply with Registration of [Enrollment] or  
[Employment] [Volunteering] [Carrying on a Vocation] at anin Institutions of 
Higher Education) 
§ 775.21(6)(a)1.b., Fla. Stat. 
 
To prove the crime of Failure by a Sexual Predator to Comply with 
Registration Requirements, the State must prove the following three elements 
beyond a reasonable doubt: 
 
Give 1a or 1b as applicable. 
1. (Defendant) 
 
a. 
is a sexual predator. 
 
b. 
has agreed or stipulated that [he] [she] has been convicted 
as a sexual predator; therefore, you should consider the 
sexual predator status element as proven by agreement of 
the parties. 
 
 
If the defendant offers to stipulate, the court must accept the offer after 
conducting an on-the-record colloquy with the defendant.  See Brown v. State, 719 
So. 2d 882 (Fla. 1998); Johnson v. State, 842 So. 2d 228 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003).  If 
there is a stipulation, the Court should not give the definition of “sexual predator” 
or “convicted.” 
 
2. (Defendant) [established] [maintained] a permanent, temporary, 
or transient residence in (name of county) County, Florida. 
 
 
Give 3a, 3b, or 3c as applicable. 
3. (Defendant)  
 
 
 
- 42 - 
a. 
[is] [was] enrolled, employed, volunteering, or 
carrying on a vocation at an institution of higher 
education in this state, and  
 
 
knowingly failed to provide the office of the sheriff of (name 
of county) County with the [(name the single unprovided 
registration item charged, as worded in the statute)] [any one or 
more of the following items: (name the unprovided 
registration items charged, as worded in the statute)]. 
 
b. 
[is] [was] enrolled, employed, volunteering, or carrying on a 
vocation at an institution of higher education in this state;  
 
 
undertook a change in [his] [her] enrollment, volunteer, or 
employment status, and 
 
 
knowingly failed to report this change in person at an office 
of the sheriff of (name of county) County within 48 hours 
after the change. 
 
c. 
[is] [was] in the custody of or under the supervision of the 
Department of Corrections;  
 
 
[is] [was] enrolled, employed, volunteering, or carrying on a 
vocation at an institution of higher education in this state;  
 
undertook a change in [his] [her] enrollment or employment 
status, and  
 
knowingly failed to report this change to the Department of 
Corrections within 48 hours after the change. 
 
Give if the defendant meets his or her burden of production. See Barnes v. 
State, 108 So. 3d 700 (Fla. 1st DCA 2013). 
It is a defense to the crime of Failure by a Sexual Predator to Comply 
with Registration Requirements that (defendant) attempted to comply with the 
requirements but was misinformed or otherwise prevented from complying by 
the [office of the sheriff] [Department of Corrections].  
 
There is no statute for the defense of being misinformed or otherwise 
prevented from registering, and the case law is silent as to (1) which party bears 
 
 
- 43 - 
the burden of persuasion of the affirmative defense and (2) the standard for the 
burden of persuasion. Under the common law, defendants had both the burden of 
production and the burden of persuasion on an affirmative defense by a 
preponderance of the evidence. 
The Florida Supreme Court has often decided, however, that once a 
defendant meets the burden of production on an affirmative defense, the burden of 
persuasion is on the State to disprove the affirmative defense beyond a reasonable 
doubt (e.g., self-defense and consent to enter in a burglary prosecution). In the 
absence of case law, trial judges must resolve the issue via a special instruction.  
See the opinion in Dixon v. United States, 548 U.S. 1 (2006), for further guidance. 
 
If burden of persuasion is on the defendant:    
 If you find that (defendant) proved (insert appropriate burden of 
persuasion) that the [office of the sheriff][Department of Corrections] 
misinformed [him] [her] or otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying 
with the registration requirements, you should find [him] [her] not guilty. If 
the defendant did not prove (insert appropriate burden of persuasion) that the 
[office of the sheriff] [Department of Corrections] misinformed [him] [her] or 
otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying, you should find [him] [her] 
guilty if all the elements of the charge have been proven beyond a reasonable 
doubt.     
    
Or, if the burden of disproving the affirmative defense is on the State under 
the beyond a reasonable standard:   
If you find that the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the 
[office of the sheriff] [Department of Corrections]did not misinform 
(defendant) or did not otherwise prevent [him] [her] from complying with the 
registration requirements, you should find [him] [her] guilty, if all of the 
elements of the charge have also been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. 
However, if you have a reasonable doubt on the issue of whether the office of 
the sheriff misinformed (defendant) or otherwise prevented [him] [her] from 
complying with the registration requirements, you should find [him] [her] not 
guilty. 
 
Definitions.  See instruction 11.15(l) for the applicable definitions. 
 
Lesser Included Offenses  
 
 
No lesser included offenses have been identified for this offense. 
 
 
 
- 44 - 
Comment 
 
 
This instruction was adopted in 2008 [983 So.2d 531] and amended in 2012 
[85 So. 3d 1090], and 2014 [148 So. 3d 1204], and 2016. 
 
 
11.15(e) FAILURE BY A SEXUAL PREDATOR TO COMPLY  
WITH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS 
(Failure to Report to Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles) 
§ 775.21(6)(f), Fla. Stat. 
 
 
To prove the crime of Failure by a Sexual Predator to Comply with 
Registration Requirements, the State must prove the following three elements 
beyond a reasonable doubt: 
 
 
Give 1a or 1b as applicable. 
1. (Defendant) 
 
a. 
is a sexual predator. 
 
b. 
has agreed or stipulated that [he] [she] has been convicted 
as a sexual predator; therefore, you should consider the 
sexual predator status element as proven by agreement of 
the parties. 
 
 
If the defendant offers to stipulate, the court must accept the offer after 
conducting an on-the-record colloquy with the defendant. See Brown v. State, 719 
So. 2d 882 (Fla. 1998); Johnson v. State, 842 So. 2d 228 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003).  If 
there is a stipulation, the court should not give the definition of “sexual predator” 
or “convicted.” 
 
2. (Defendant) [established] [maintained] a [permanent] [temporary] 
[transient] residence in (name of county) County, Florida. 
 
Give 3a or 3b as applicable. 
3. (Defendant)  
 
a. 
was not incarcerated; 
 
 
 
- 45 - 
[he] [she] resided in the community and was [under the 
supervision] [not under the supervision] of the Department 
of Corrections; 
 
 
[he] [she] registered as a sexual predator with an office of 
the sheriff of (name of county) County; and 
 
 
knowingly failed to report in person at a driver’s license 
office of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor 
Vehicles within 48 hours after registering to present proof 
of this registration. 
 
b. 
reported in person to a driver’s license office of the 
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 
and either knowingly failed to [secure a Florida 
driver’s license] [renew a Florida driver’s license] 
[secure an identification card] or secured a Florida 
driver’s license] [renewed [his] [her] Florida driver’s 
license] [secured a Florida identification card], but in 
doing so, 
 
Give one or both of the following as applicable to the charge. 
 
i. 
failed to report to that office that [he] [she] was a 
sexual predator. 
 
ii. 
failed to provide that office with [(name the single 
unprovided registration item charged, as worded in the 
statute)] [any one or more of the following items: 
(name the unprovided registration items charged, as 
worded in the statute)]. 
 
Give if the defendant meets his or her burden of production. See Barnes v. 
State, 108 So. 3d 700 (Fla. 1st DCA 2013). 
It is a defense to the crime of Failure by a Sexual Predator to Comply 
with Registration Requirements that (defendant) attempted to comply withn 
the requirements but was misinformed or otherwise prevented from 
complying by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.   
 
 
 
- 46 - 
There is no statute for the defense of being misinformed or otherwise 
prevented from registering, and the case law is silent as to (1) which party bears 
the burden of persuasion of the affirmative defense and (2) the standard for the 
burden of persuasion. Under the common law, defendants had both the burden of 
production and the burden of persuasion on an affirmative defense by a 
preponderance of the evidence. 
The Florida Supreme Court has often decided, however, that once a 
defendant meets the burden of production on an affirmative defense, the burden of 
persuasion is on the State to disprove the affirmative defense beyond a reasonable 
doubt (e.g., self-defense and consent to enter in a burglary prosecution). In the 
absence of case law, trial judges must resolve the issue via a special instruction.  
See the opinion in Dixon v. United States, 548 U.S. 1 (2006), for further guidance. 
 
If burden of persuasion is on the defendant:    
 If you find that (defendant) proved (insert appropriate burden of 
persuasion) that the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 
misinformed [him] [her] or otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying 
with the registration requirements, you should find [him] [her] not guilty. If 
the defendant did not prove (insert appropriate burden of persuasion) that the 
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles misinformed [him] [her] 
or otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying, you should find [him] 
[her] guilty if all the elements of the charge have been proven beyond a 
reasonable doubt.     
    
Or, if the burden of disproving the affirmative defense is on the State under 
the beyond a reasonable standard:   
If you find that the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the 
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles did not misinform 
(defendant) or did not otherwise prevent [him] [her] from complying with the 
registration requirements, you should find [him] [her] guilty, if all of the 
elements of the charge have also been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. 
However, if you have a reasonable doubt on the issue of whether the 
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles misinformed (defendant) 
or otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying with the registration 
requirements, you should find [him] [her] not guilty. 
 
Definitions.  See instruction 11.15(l) for the applicable definitions. 
  
 
 
- 47 - 
Lesser Included Offenses  
 
 
No lesser included offenses have been identified for this offense. 
 
Comment 
 
 
This instruction was adopted in 2008 [983 So. 2d 531] and amended in 2012 
[85 So. 3d 1090], and 2014 [148 So. 3d 1204], and 2016. 
 
 
11.15(g) FAILURE BY A SEXUAL PREDATOR TO COMPLY  
WITH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS 
(Failure to Report Change of Name or Address within the State or 
Jurisdiction) 
§ 775.21(6)(g), Fla. Stat. 
 
 
To prove the crime of Failure by a Sexual Predator to Comply with 
Registration Requirements, the State must prove the following three elements 
beyond a reasonable doubt: 
 
 
Give 1a or 1b as applicable. 
1. (Defendant) 
 
a. 
is a sexual predator. 
 
b. 
has agreed or stipulated that [he] [she] has been convicted 
as a sexual predator; therefore, you should consider the 
sexual predator status element as proven by agreement of 
the parties. 
 
 
If the defendant offers to stipulate, the court must accept the offer after 
conducting an on-the-record colloquy with the defendant.  See Brown v. State, 719 
So. 2d 882 (Fla. 1998); Johnson v. State, 842 So. 2d 228 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003).  If 
there is a stipulation, the court should not give the definition of “sexual predator” 
or “convicted.” 
 
2. (Defendant) [established] [maintained] a [permanent] [temporary] 
[transient] residence in (name of county) County, Florida. 
 
 
Give 3a, 3b, or 3c as applicable. 
 
 
- 48 - 
3. (Defendant) 
 
a. 
knowingly failed to report in person to a driver’s license 
office [when [his] [her] driver’s license or identification 
card was subject to renewal] [within 48 hours after any 
change in [his] [her] permanent, temporary, or transient 
residence] [within 48 hours after any change in [his] [her] 
name by reason of [marriage] [(specify other legal process)]]. 
 
b. 
knowingly failed to report in person to an office of the 
sheriff of (name of county) County within 48 hours of 
vacating [his] [her] permanent, temporary, or transient 
residence and failing to establish or maintain another 
permanent, temporary, or transient residence.  
 
c. 
knowingly failed to report in person to an office of the 
sheriff of (name of county) County that [he] [she] did not 
vacate [his] [her] permanent, temporary, or transient 
residence within 48 hours after (defendant) reported to that 
agency [his] [her] intent to vacate [his] [her] permanent, 
temporary, or transient residence.  
 
d. 
reported to  
 
Give i or ii as applicable. 
i. 
an office of the sheriff of (name of county) 
 
ii. 
a driver’s license office of the Department of Highway 
Safety and Motor Vehicles 
 
 
 
 
and 
 
 
 
 
Give iii or iv as applicable. 
iii. 
knowingly failed to provide that office with (name the 
single unprovided registration item charged, as worded in 
the statute).  
 
iv. 
knowingly failed to provide that office with any one or 
more of the following items: (name the unprovided 
registration items charged, as worded in the statute). 
 
 
- 49 - 
 
Give if the defendant meets his or her burden of production. See Barnes v. 
State, 108 So. 3d 700 (Fla. 1st DCA 2013). 
It is a defense to the crime of Failure by a Sexual Offender to Comply 
with Registration Requirements that (defendant) attempted to comply with the 
requirements but was misinformed or otherwise prevented from complying by 
the [office of the sheriff] [Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles].  
 
There is no statute for the defense of being misinformed or otherwise 
prevented from registering, and the case law is silent as to (1) which party bears 
the burden of persuasion of the affirmative defense and (2) the standard for the 
burden of persuasion. Under the common law, defendants had both the burden of 
production and the burden of persuasion on an affirmative defense by a 
preponderance of the evidence. 
The Florida Supreme Court has often decided, however, that once a 
defendant meets the burden of production on an affirmative defense, the burden of 
persuasion is on the State to disprove the affirmative defense beyond a reasonable 
doubt (e.g., self-defense and consent to enter in a burglary prosecution). In the 
absence of case law, trial judges must resolve the issue via a special instruction.  
See the opinion in Dixon v. United States, 548 U.S. 1 (2006), for further guidance. 
 
If burden of persuasion is on the defendant:    
 If you find that (defendant) proved (insert appropriate burden of 
persuasion) that the [office of the sheriff][Department of Highway Safety and 
Motor Vehicles] misinformed [him] [her] or otherwise prevented [him] [her] 
from complying with the registration requirements, you should find [him] 
[her] not guilty. If the defendant did not prove (insert appropriate burden of 
persuasion) that the [office of the sheriff][Department of Highway Safety and 
Motor Vehicles] misinformed [him] [her] or otherwise prevented [him] [her] 
from complying, you should find [him] [her] guilty if all the elements of the 
charge have been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.     
    
Or, if the burden of disproving the affirmative defense is on the State under 
the beyond a reasonable standard:   
If you find that the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the 
[office of the sheriff] [Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles] did 
not misinform (defendant) or otherwise prevent [him] [her] from complying 
with the registration requirements, you should find [him] [her] guilty, if all of 
the elements of the charge have also been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. 
However, if you have a reasonable doubt on the issue of whether the [office of 
 
 
- 50 - 
the sheriff] [Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles] misinformed 
(defendant) or otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying with the 
registration requirements, you should find [him] [her] not guilty. 
 
Definitions.  See instruction 11.15(l) for the applicable definitions. 
 
 
Lesser Included Offenses  
 
 
No lesser included offenses have been identified for this offense. 
 
Comments 
 
 
§ 775.21(6)(g)1., Fla. Stat., requires sexual predators to report certain 
changes to the sheriff’s office within 48 hours of the change, even if unable to 
secure or update a driver license or identification card. In those instances, a special 
instruction will be needed.  
 
This instruction was adopted in 2008 [983 So.2d 531] and amended in 2012 
[85 So. 3d 1090], and 2014 [148 So. 3d 1204], and 2016. 
 
 
11.15(h) FAILURE BY A SEXUAL PREDATOR TO COMPLY 
 WITH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS 
(Failure to Respond To Address Verification Correspondence) 
§ 775.21(10)(a), Fla. Stat. 
 
To prove the crime of Failure by a Sexual Predator to Comply with 
Registration Requirements, the State must prove the following three elements 
beyond a reasonable doubt: 
 
Give 1a or 1b as applicable. 
1. (Defendant) 
 
a. 
is a sexual predator. 
 
b. 
has agreed or stipulated that [he] [she] has been convicted as 
a sexual predator; therefore, you should consider the sexual 
predator status element as proven by agreement of the 
parties. 
 
 
 
- 51 - 
 
If the defendant offers to stipulate, the court must accept the offer after 
conducting an on-the-record colloquy with the defendant.  See Brown v. State, 719 
So. 2d 882 (Fla. 1998); Johnson v. State, 842 So. 2d 228 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003).  If 
there is a stipulation, the court should not give the definition of “sexual predator” 
or “convicted.” 
 
2. (Defendant) established or maintained a permanent, temporary, or 
transient residence in (name of county) County, Florida. 
 
Give 3a or 3b as applicable. 
3. a. 
(Defendant) knowingly failed to respond to address 
verification correspondence from the Florida Department of 
Law Enforcement within three weeks from the date of the 
correspondence. 
 
b. 
(Defendant) knowingly provided false registration 
information by act or omission. 
 
Give if the defendant meets his or her burden of production. See Barnes v. 
State, 108 So. 3d 700 (Fla. 1st DCA 2013). 
It is a defense to the crime of Failure by a Sexual Predator to Comply 
with Registration Requirements that (defendant) attempted to comply with the 
requirements but was misinformed or otherwise prevented from complying by 
the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.  
 
There is no statute for the defense of being misinformed or otherwise 
prevented from registering, and the case law is silent as to (1) which party bears 
the burden of persuasion of the affirmative defense and (2) the standard for the 
burden of persuasion. Under the common law, defendants had both the burden of 
production and the burden of persuasion on an affirmative defense by a 
preponderance of the evidence. 
The Florida Supreme Court has often decided, however, that once a 
defendant meets the burden of production on an affirmative defense, the burden of 
persuasion is on the State to disprove the affirmative defense beyond a reasonable 
doubt (e.g., self-defense and consent to enter in a burglary prosecution). In the 
absence of case law, trial judges must resolve the issue via a special instruction.  
See the opinion in Dixon v. United States, 548 U.S. 1 (2006), for further guidance. 
 
If burden of persuasion is on the defendant:    
 
 
- 52 - 
 If you find that (defendant) proved (insert appropriate burden of 
persuasion) that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement misinformed 
[him] [her] or otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying with the 
registration requirements, you should find [him] [her] not guilty. If the 
defendant did not prove (insert appropriate burden of persuasion) that the 
Florida Department of Law Enforcement misinformed [him] [her] or 
otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying, you should find [him] [her] 
guilty if all the elements of the charge have been proven beyond a reasonable 
doubt.     
    
Or, if the burden of disproving the affirmative defense is on the State under 
the beyond a reasonable standard:   
If you find that the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the 
Florida Department of Law Enforcement did not misinform (defendant) or did 
not otherwise prevent [him] [her] from complying with the registration 
requirements, as worded in the statute)], you should find [him] [her] guilty, if 
all of the elements of the charge have also been proven beyond a reasonable 
doubt. However, if you have a reasonable doubt on the issue of whether the 
Florida Department of Law Enforcement misinformed (defendant) or 
otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying, you should find [him] [her] 
not guilty. 
 
Definitions.  See instruction 11.15(l) for the applicable definitions. 
 
Lesser Included Offenses  
 
 
No lesser included offenses have been identified for this offense. 
 
Comments 
 
There are other penalties in § 775.21(10)(a), Fla. Stat., that may require a 
special instruction. 
  
 
This instruction was adopted in 2008 [983 So.2d 531] and amended in 2012 
[85 So. 3d 1090], and 2014 [148 So. 3d 1204], and 2016. 
 
 
 
 
- 53 - 
11.15(i) FAILURE BY A SEXUAL PREDATOR TO COMPLY  
WITH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS 
(Failure to Report Intent to Move to Another State, or  
Jurisdiction, or Country) 
§ 775.21(6)(i), Fla. Stat. 
 
To prove the crime of Failure by a Sexual Predator to Comply with 
Registration Requirements, the State must prove the following three elements 
beyond a reasonable doubt: 
 
Give 1a or 1b as applicable. 
1. (Defendant)  
 
a. 
is a sexual predator.  
 
b. 
has agreed or stipulated that he has been convicted as a 
sexual predator; therefore, you should consider the sexual 
predator status element as proven by agreement of the 
parties. 
 
 
If the defendant offers to stipulate, the court must accept the offer after 
conducting an on-the-record colloquy with the defendant. See Brown v. State, 719 
So. 2d 882 (Fla. 1998); Johnson v. State, 842 So. 2d 228 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003). If 
there is a stipulation, the court should not also give the definition of “sexual 
predator” or “convicted.” 
2. (Defendant) established or maintained a permanent, temporary, or 
transient residence in (name of county) County, Florida. 
 
Give 3a or 3b as applicable. 
3. (Defendant)  
 
a. 
intended to leave this State to establish a permanent, 
temporary, or transient residence in another state, or 
jurisdiction, or country on (date); 
 
and 
 
1. knowingly failed to report in person to an office of the 
sheriff in the county of [his] [her] current residence 
 
 
- 54 - 
within 48 hours before the date on which [he] [she] 
intended to leave this state to establish residence in 
another state or jurisdiction within the United States. 
 
or 
 
2. knowingly failed to report in person to an office of the 
sheriff in the county of [his] [her] current residence 
within 21 days before [his] [her] planned departure 
date if the intended residence of 5 days or more was 
outside of the United States.  
 
b. 
(Defendant) 
 
reported to an office of the sheriff of the county of [his] 
[her] current residence [his] [her] intention to establish 
residence in another state, or jurisdiction, or country;  
 
and 
 
 
knowingly failed to provide [[his] [her] (name the single 
unprovided registration item charged, as worded in the statute)] 
[any one or more of the following items: [his] [her] (name 
the unprovided registration items charged, as worded in the 
statute).] 
 
Read only if the defendant is charged with failing to provide a physical 
residential address. 
The defendant shall provide a physical residential address.  A post office 
box shall not be provided in lieu of a physical residential address. 
 
Give if the defendant meets his or her burden of production. See Barnes v. 
State, 108 So. 3d 700 (Fla. 1st DCA 2013). 
It is a defense to the crime of Failure by a Sexual Predator to Comply 
with Registration Requirements that (defendant) attempted to comply with the 
requirements but was misinformed or otherwise prevented from complying by 
the office of the sheriff.  
 
There is no statute for the defense of being misinformed or otherwise 
prevented from registering, and the case law is silent as to (1) which party bears 
the burden of persuasion of the affirmative defense and (2) the standard for the 
 
 
- 55 - 
burden of persuasion. Under the common law, defendants had both the burden of 
production and the burden of persuasion on an affirmative defense by a 
preponderance of the evidence. 
The Florida Supreme Court has often decided, however, that once a 
defendant meets the burden of production on an affirmative defense, the burden of 
persuasion is on the State to disprove the affirmative defense beyond a reasonable 
doubt (e.g., self-defense and consent to enter in a burglary prosecution). In the 
absence of case law, trial judges must resolve the issue via a special instruction.  
See the opinion in Dixon v. United States, 548 U.S. 1 (2006), for further guidance. 
 
If burden of persuasion is on the defendant:    
 If you find that (defendant) proved (insert appropriate burden of 
persuasion) that the office of the sheriff misinformed [him] [her] or otherwise 
prevented [him] [her] from complying with the registration requirements, you 
should find [him] [her] not guilty. If the defendant did not prove (insert 
appropriate burden of persuasion) that the office of the sheriff misinformed 
[him] [her] or otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying, you should 
find [him] [her] guilty if all the elements of the charge have been proven 
beyond a reasonable doubt.     
    
Or, if the burden of disproving the affirmative defense is on the State under 
the beyond a reasonable standard:   
If you find that the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the 
office of the sheriff did not misinform (defendant) or did not otherwise prevent 
[him] [her] from complying with the registration requirements, you should 
find [him] [her] guilty, if all of the elements of the charge have also been 
proven beyond a reasonable doubt. However, if you have a reasonable doubt 
on the issue of whether the office of the sheriff misinformed (defendant) or 
otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying with the registration 
requirements, you should find [him] [her] not guilty.  
   
 
Definitions.  See instruction 11.15(l) for the applicable definitions. 
 
Lesser Included Offenses 
 
 
No lesser included offenses have been identified for this offense. 
 
 
 
- 56 - 
Comment 
 
 
This instruction was adopted in 2008 [983 So. 2d 531] and amended in 2012 
[85 So. 3d 1090], 2013 [113 So. 3d 754], and 2014 [148 So. 3d 1204], and 2016. 
 
 
11.15(l) SEXUAL PREDATOR DEFINITIONS 
§ 775.21(2) and (4), Fla. Stat.  
 
 
Definitions. 
 
“Sexual predator” means a person who: 
 
 
has been designated a sexual predator, in a written order of a 
Florida court, on or after October 1, 1993; and 
 
 
has not received a pardon for the offense(s) necessary for the 
designation as a sexual predator; and  
 
 
the written order designating the defendant a sexual predator has 
not been set aside in any judicial proceeding. 
 
 
“Institution of higher education” means a career center, community 
college, college, state university, or independent postsecondary institution. 
 
 
“Change in enrollment or employment status” means the 
commencement or termination of enrollment or employment or a change in 
location of enrollment or employment. 
 
 
“Convicted” means there has been a determination of guilt as a result of 
a trial or the entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, regardless of 
whether adjudication is withheld.  (Note to Judge: For military, federal and out 
of state convictions, see § 775.21(2)(e), Fla. Stat.)  
 
“Physical residential address” does not include a post office box, but 
may be a location that has no specific street address.  
 
 
“Permanent residence” means a place where the person abides, lodges, 
or resides for 5 or more consecutive days. 
 
 
 
- 57 - 
 
“Temporary residence” means a place where the person abides, lodges, 
or resides including, but not limited to, vacation, business, or personal travel 
destinations in or out of this state, for a period of 5 or more days in the 
aggregate during any calendar year and which is not the person’s permanent 
address or, for a person whose permanent residence is not in this state, a place 
where the person is employed, practices a vocation, or is enrolled as a student 
for any period of time in this state. 
 
 
“Transient residence” means a place or county where a person lives, 
remains, or is located for a period of 5 or more days in the aggregate during a 
calendar year and which is not the person’s permanent or temporary address. 
The term includes, but is not limited to, a place where the person sleeps or 
seeks shelter and a location that has no specific street address. 
 
“Internet identifier” means all electronic mail, chat, instant messenger, 
social networking, application software, or similar names used for Internet 
communication, but does not include a date of birth, social security number, 
or personal identification number (PIN). 
 
“Vehicles owned” means any motor vehicle which is registered, 
coregistered, leased, titled, or rented by a sexual predator or sexual offender; 
a rented vehicle that a sexual predator or sexual offender is authorized to 
drive; or a vehicle for which a sexual predator or sexual offender is insured as 
a driver. The term also includes any motor vehicle which is registered, 
coregistered, leased, titled, or rented by a person or persons residing at a 
sexual predator’s or sexual offender’s permanent residence for 5 or more 
consecutive days. 
 
“Motor vehicle” means an automobile, motorcycle, truck, trailer, 
semitrailer, truck tractor and semitrailer combination, or any other vehicle 
operated on the roads of this state, used to transport persons or property, and 
propelled by power other than muscular power [but the term does not include 
traction engines, road rollers, special mobile equipment, vehicles that run only 
upon a track, bicycles, swamp buggies, or mopeds]. 
 
[“Motor vehicle” includes a recreational vehicle-type unit primarily 
designed as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use, 
which either has its own motive power or is mounted on or drawn by another 
vehicle.] 
 
 
 
 
- 58 - 
Comment 
 
 
This instruction was adopted in 2008 [983 So. 2d 531] and revisedamended 
in 2012 [85 So. 3d 1090], and 2013 [113 So. 3d 754], and 2016. 
 
    
11.15(m) FAILURE BY A SEXUAL PREDATOR TO COMPLY  
WITH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS 
(Failure to Report Every 30 Days for Transient Residents)  
§§ 775.21(6)(g)2.b. and  775.21(6)(g)4., Fla. Stat.  
  
Give this if the charge is failure to report every 30 days after registering 
with information regarding a transient residence.  
 
To prove the crime of Failure by a Sexual Predator to Comply with 
Registration Requirements, the State must prove the following three elements 
beyond a reasonable doubt: 
 
Give 1a or 1b as applicable. 
1. (Defendant) 
 
a. is a sexual predator. 
 
b. has agreed or stipulated that [he] [she] has been convicted 
as a sexual predator; therefore, you should consider the 
sexual predator status element as proven by agreement of 
the parties. 
 
 
If the defendant offers to stipulate, the court must accept the offer after 
conducting an on-the-record colloquy with the defendant. See Brown v. State, 719 
So. 2d 882 (Fla. 1998); Johnson v. State, 842 So. 2d 228 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003). If 
there is a stipulation, the court should not also give the definition of “sexual 
predator” or “convicted.” 
 
2. (Defendant) established a transient residence in (name of county) 
County, Florida.  
 
3. (Defendant) knowingly failed to report the address and location 
where [he] [she] maintained a transient residence, in person, to 
the office of the sheriff in the county in which [he] [she] 
 
 
- 59 - 
maintained a transient residence, every 30 days after [he] [she] 
initially reported to the sheriff that [he] [she] had established a 
transient residence. 
 
 
Read only if the defendant is charged with failing to provide a physical 
residential address. 
The defendant shall provide a physical residential address. A post office 
box shall not be provided in lieu of a physical residential address. 
 
Give if the defendant meets his or her burden of production. See Barnes v. 
State, 108 So. 3d 700 (Fla. 1st DCA 2013). 
It is a defense to the crime of Failure to Comply with Registration 
Requirements as a Sexual Predator that (defendant) attempted to comply with 
the requirements but was misinformed or otherwise prevented from 
complying by the office of the sheriff.  
 
There is no statute for the defense of being misinformed or otherwise 
prevented from registering, and the case law is silent as to (1) which party bears 
the burden of persuasion of the affirmative defense and (2) the standard for the 
burden of persuasion. Under the common law, defendants had both the burden of 
production and the burden of persuasion on an affirmative defense by a 
preponderance of the evidence. 
The Florida Supreme Court has often decided, however, that once a 
defendant meets the burden of production on an affirmative defense, the burden of 
persuasion is on the State to disprove the affirmative defense beyond a reasonable 
doubt (e.g., self-defense and consent to enter in a burglary prosecution). In the 
absence of case law, trial judges must resolve the issue via a special instruction.  
See the opinion in Dixon v. United States, 548 U.S. 1 (2006), for further guidance. 
 
If burden of persuasion is on the defendant:    
 If you find that (defendant) proved (insert appropriate burden of 
persuasion) that the office of the sheriff misinformed [him] [her] or otherwise 
prevented [him] [her] from complying with the registration requirements, you 
should find [him] [her] not guilty. If the defendant did not prove (insert 
appropriate burden of persuasion) that the office of the sheriff misinformed 
[him] [her] or otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying, you should 
find [him] [her] guilty if all the elements of the charge have been proven 
beyond a reasonable doubt.     
    
 
 
- 60 - 
Or, if the burden of disproving the affirmative defense is on the State under 
the beyond a reasonable standard:   
If you find that the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the 
office of the sheriff did not misinform (defendant) or did not otherwise prevent 
[him] [her] from complying with the registration requirements, you should 
find [him] [her] guilty, if all of the elements of the charge have also been 
proven beyond a reasonable doubt. However, if you have a reasonable doubt 
on the issue of whether the office of the sheriff misinformed (defendant) or 
otherwise prevented [him] [her] from complying with the registration 
requirements, you should find [him] [her] not guilty.  
 
Definitions.  See instruction 11.15(l) for the applicable definitions. 
 
Lesser Included Offenses  
 
 
No lesser included offenses have been identified for this offense. 
 
Comment 
 
 
This instruction was adopted in 2016.