Title: In Re: Standard Jury Instructions In Criminal Cases Report No. 201206
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: SC12-2296
State: Florida
Issuer: Florida Supreme Court
Date: September 26, 2013

Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
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No. SC12-2296 
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IN RE:  STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS IN CRIMINAL CASES—
REPORT NO. 2012-06. 
 
[September 26, 2013] 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
The Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal 
Cases has submitted proposed changes to the standard jury instructions and asks 
that the Court authorize the amended standard instructions.  We have jurisdiction.  
See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const. 
 
The Committee proposes new instructions 19.7 (Official Misconduct) and 
26.9 (Money Laundering).  The Committee published both proposals in The 
Florida Bar News.  Two comments were received pertaining to instruction 26.9. 
 
Having considered the Committee’s report and the comments received by 
the Committee, we authorize the new instructions for publication and use as 
follows:  instruction 19.7 (Official Misconduct) is authorized with minor 
modification to the Comment section to the instruction, to include a citation to 
 
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section 838.022(2)(a), Florida Statutes, for the proposition that the term “public 
servant” does not include a candidate who does not otherwise qualify as a public 
servant, while instruction 26.9 (Money Laundering) is authorized as proposed. 
 
The new instructions, as set forth in the appendix to this opinion, are 
authorized for publication and use.1
 
It is so ordered. 
  New language is indicated by underlining.  In 
authorizing the publication and use of these instructions, we express no opinion on 
their correctness and remind all interested parties that this authorization forecloses 
neither requesting additional or alternative instructions nor contesting the legal 
correctness of the instructions.  We further caution all interested parties that any 
comments associated with the instructions reflect only the opinion of the 
Committee and are not necessarily indicative of the views of this Court as to their 
correctness or applicability.  The instructions as set forth in the appendix shall be 
effective when this opinion becomes final. 
 
POLSTON, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, CANADY, LABARGA, 
and PERRY, concur. 
 
 
                                         
 
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. 
 
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THE FILING OF A MOTION FOR REHEARING SHALL NOT ALTER THE 
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THESE AMENDMENTS. 
 
Original Proceeding – Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in 
Criminal Cases 
 
Honorable Jacqueline Hogan Scola, Chair, Supreme Court Committee on Standard 
Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases, Miami, Florida, 
 
 
for Petitioner 
 
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APPENDIX 
19.7  OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT 
§ 838.022, Fla. Stat. 
To prove the crime of Official Misconduct, the State must prove the 
following three elements beyond a reasonable doubt: 
1.  (Defendant) was a public servant.  
2. While a public servant, (defendant) 
 
 
Give as applicable. 
a. [falsified] [caused another person to falsify] an [official record] 
[official document]. 
b. [concealed] [covered up] [destroyed] [mutilated] [altered] an 
[official record] [official document] [or caused another person to 
perform such an act]. 
c. [obstructed] [delayed] [prevented] the communication of 
information relating to the commission of a felony that directly 
involved or affected the public [agency] [entity] served by 
(defendant). 
3. (Defendant) did so with corrupt intent to [obtain a benefit for a 
person] [cause harm to another]. 
 
 
 
Definitions. 
 
Fla. Stat. § 838.014(1). 
“Benefit” means gain or advantage or anything regarded by the person 
to be benefited as a gain or advantage, including the doing of an act beneficial 
to any person in whose welfare he or she is interested, including any 
commission, gift, gratuity, property, commercial interest, or any other thing of 
economic value not authorized by law. 
 
 
Fla. Stat. § 838.014(4). 
“With corrupt intent” means acting knowingly and dishonestly for a 
wrongful purpose. 
 
 
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Fla. Stat. § 838.014(5). 
“Harm” means pecuniary or other loss, disadvantage, or injury to the 
person affected. 
 
 
Fla. Stat. § 838.014(6). 
“Public Servant” means: 
a. Any officer or employee of any state, county, municipal or special 
district agency or entity; 
b. Any legislative or judicial officer or employee; 
c. Any person, except a witness, who acts as a general or special 
magistrate, receiver, auditor, arbitrator, umpire, referee, consultant, 
or hearing officer while performing a governmental function. 
 
Fla. Stat. § 838.022(2)(b). 
“Official Record” or “Official Document” includes only public records. 
 
Fla. Stat. § 119.011(12). 
“Public Records” means all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, 
tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings, data processing software, or 
other material, regardless of the physical form, characteristics, or means of 
transmission, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection 
with the transaction of official business by any agency. 
 
Give if applicable.  Fla. Stat. § 775.08(1). 
“Felony” means any criminal offense punishable by death or 
imprisonment in excess of one year. 
 
 
Lesser Included Offenses 
 
OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT—838.022 
CATEGORY ONE 
CATEGORY TWO 
FLA. STAT. 
INS. NO. 
None 
 
 
 
 
Attempt 
777.04(1) 
5.1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Comment 
 
Committee Note:  A candidate for public office or a person who has been 
elected but has yet to officially assume the responsibilities of public office does not 
qualify as a public servant.  § 838.022(2)(a), Fla. Stat. (2012). 
 
This instruction was adopted in 2013. 
 
 
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26.9  MONEY LAUNDERING 
§ 896.101(3)(a), (3)(b), or (3)(c), Fla. Stat. 
 
Give if Fla. Stat. § 896.101(3)(a) is charged: 
To prove the crime of Money Laundering, the State must prove the 
following four elements beyond a reasonable doubt: 
 
1. (Defendant) [conducted] [attempted to conduct] a financial transaction. 
2. The money or property involved in the financial transaction 
represented the proceeds of (describe the specified unlawful activity listed 
in Fla. Stat. 895.02 that is alleged in the charging document).  
 
3. (Defendant) knew the money or property involved in the financial 
transaction represented the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity.  
 
Give 4a and/or 4b as applicable. 
4. a.   (Defendant) did so with the intent to promote the carrying on of 
(describe the specified unlawful activity listed in Fla. Stat. 895.02 that is 
alleged in the charging document).  
 
b.  (Defendant) knew that the transaction was designed in whole or in       
part  
 
1.  to [conceal] [disguise] the [nature] [location] [source] [ownership] 
[control] of the proceeds of (describe the specified unlawful activity 
listed in Fla. Stat. 895.02 that is alleged in the charging document);  
 
[or] 
 
2.  to avoid a [transaction reporting requirement] [money 
transmitters’ registration requirement] under state law. 
 
 
Give if Fla. Stat. § 896.101(3)(b) is charged: 
 
To prove the crime of Money Laundering, the State must prove the 
following two elements beyond a reasonable doubt: 
 
1. (Defendant) [transported] [attempted to transport] [a monetary 
instrument] [funds].  
 
 
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Give 2a and/or 2b as applicable. 
2. a.  (Defendant) did so with the intent to promote the carrying on of 
(describe the specified unlawful activity listed in Fla. Stat. 895.02 that is 
alleged in the charging document);  
 
          [or] 
      b.  (Defendant) knew that the [monetary instrument] [funds] involved in 
 
 the transportation represented the proceeds of some form of 
 
 unlawful activity and also knew that such transportation was 
 
 designed in whole or in part 
 
1. [to conceal] [to disguise] the [nature] [location] [source] 
[ownership] [control] of the proceeds of (describe the specified 
unlawful activity listed in Fla. Stat. 895.02 that is alleged in the 
charging document); 
 
[or] 
 
2. to avoid a [transaction reporting requirement] [money 
transmitters’ registration requirement] under state law. 
 
 
Give if Fla. Stat. § 896.101(3)(c) is charged: 
 
To prove the crime of Money Laundering, the State must prove the 
following three elements beyond a reasonable doubt: 
 
1. (Defendant) [conducted] [attempted to conduct] a financial 
transaction.  
 
2. The financial transaction involved [property] [proceeds] which [an 
investigative or law enforcement officer] [someone acting under an 
investigative or law enforcement officer’s direction] represented as 
being [derived from] [used to conduct or facilitate] (describe the 
specified unlawful activity listed in Fla. Stat. 895.02 that is alleged in the 
charging document). 
 
3.  (Defendant) did so with the intent to  
 
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    Give 3a and/or 3b and/or 3c as applicable. 
a. promote the carrying on of (describe the specified unlawful activity 
listed in Fla. Stat. 895.02 that is alleged in the charging document);  
   
      [or] 
 
b. [conceal] [disguise] the [nature] [location] [source] [ownership] 
[control] of the [proceeds] [property believed to be the proceeds] 
of (describe the specified unlawful activity listed in Fla. Stat. 895.02 
that is alleged in the charging document); 
 
[or] 
 
        c. avoid a transaction reporting requirement under state law.  
           Give if applicable. Fla. Stat. § 896.101(4).   
 
It is not a defense to Money Laundering that: 
 
(a) Any stratagem or deception, including the use of an undercover 
operative or law enforcement officer, was employed. 
 
(b) A facility or an opportunity to engage in conduct in violation of this 
act was provided. 
 
(c) A law enforcement officer, or person acting under direction of a law 
enforcement officer, solicited a person predisposed to engage in conduct in 
violation of any provision of this chapter to commit a violation of this chapter 
in order to gain evidence against that person, provided such solicitation would 
not induce an ordinary law-abiding person to violate this law. 
 
 
Note to Judge: This subsection does not preclude the defense of entrapment. 
See jury instruction 3.6(j). 
 
 
Definitions. 
 
Fla. Stats. § 896.101(2)(a), § 896.101(2)(g). 
 
“Knowing that the property involved in a financial transaction 
represents the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity” means that the 
person knew the property involved in the transaction represented proceeds 
from some form, though not necessarily which form, of activity that 
constitutes a felony under state or federal law, regardless of whether such 
 
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activity is (describe the specified unlawful activity listed in Fla. Stat. 895.02 that is 
alleged in the charging document).  A “felony” is a crime punishable by death or 
imprisonment in excess of one year.  (Name of crime) is a felony.  
 
 
Fla. Stat. § 896.101(2)(b). 
 
“Conducts” includes initiating, concluding, or participating in initiating 
or concluding a transaction. 
 
 
Fla. Stat. § 896.101(2)(c). 
 
“Transaction” means a purchase, sale, loan, pledge, gift, transfer, 
delivery, or other disposition, and with respect to a financial institution 
includes a deposit, withdrawal, transfer between accounts, exchange of 
currency, loan, extension of credit, purchase or sale of any stock, bond, 
certificate of deposit, or other monetary instrument, use of a safety deposit 
box, or any other payment, transfer, or delivery by, through, or to a financial 
institution, by whatever means effected.  
 
 
Fla. Stat. § 896.101(2)(d). 
 
“Financial transaction” means a transaction involving the movement of 
funds by wire or other means or involving one or more monetary instruments, 
which in any way or degree affects commerce, or a transaction involving the 
transfer of title to any real property, vehicle, vessel, or aircraft, or a 
transaction involving the use of a financial institution which is engaged in, or 
the activities of which affect, commerce in any way or degree. 
 
 
Fla. Stat. § 896.101(2)(f). 
 
“Financial institution” means [an insured bank] [a commercial bank or 
trust company] [a private banker] [an agency or branch of a foreign bank] [a 
credit union] [a thrift institution] [a broker or dealer in securities or 
commodities] [an investment banker or investment company] [a currency 
exchange] [an operator of a credit card system] [an insurance company] [a 
dealer in precious metals, stones, or jewels] [a pawnbroker] [a loan or finance 
company] [a travel agency] [a telegraph company] [the United States Postal 
Service] [(list one of the other institutions enumerated in 31 U.S.C. § 5312)], that 
is located in Florida.  
 
 
Fla. Stat. § 896.101(2)(e). 
 
“Monetary instruments” means coin or currency of the United States or 
of any other country, travelers’ checks, personal checks, bank checks, money 
orders, investment securities in bearer form or otherwise in such form that 
 
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title thereto passes upon delivery, and negotiable instruments in bearer form 
or otherwise in such form that title thereto passes upon delivery. 
 
 
Fla. Stat. § 896.101(2)(h). 
 
“Knowing” means that a person knew; or, with respect to any 
transaction or transportation involving more than $10,000 in U.S. currency or 
foreign equivalent, should have known after reasonable inquiry, unless the 
person has a duty to file a federal currency transaction report, IRS Form 
8300, or a like report under state law and has complied with that reporting 
requirement in accordance with law. 
 
 
Fla. Stat. § 896.101(3)(d). 
 
“Investigative or law enforcement officer” means any officer of the 
State of Florida or political subdivision thereof, of the United States, or of any 
other state or political subdivision thereof, who is empowered by law to 
conduct, on behalf of the government, investigations of, or to make arrests for, 
offenses enumerated in this subsection or similar federal offenses.  
 
Lesser Included Offenses 
 
 
No lesser included offenses have been identified for this offense. 
Comment 
 
This instruction was adopted in 2013.