Title: In Re: Standard Jury Instructions In Criminal Cases – Report No. 2007-6
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: SC07-1606
State: Florida
Issuer: Florida Supreme Court
Date: April 17, 2008

Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
_____________ 
 
No. SC07-1606 
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IN RE:  STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS IN CRIMINAL CASES—
REPORT NO. 2007-6. 
 
[April 17, 2008] 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
The Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal 
Cases (Committee) has submitted proposed new Standard Criminal Jury 
Instructions 11.16 and 11.16(a), Dangerous Sexual Felony Offender, and asks that 
the Court authorize the proposed standard instructions for publication and use.  We 
have jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const. 
 
New instructions 11.16 and 11.16(a) pertain to the classification of 
“Dangerous Sexual Felony Offender.”  The instructions derive from the rewording 
of section 794.0115, Florida Statutes, by chapter 2003-115, Laws of Florida, to 
include a mandatory minimum sentence of twenty-five years of imprisonment for 
those found to have violated the Dangerous Sexual Offender Act.  Instruction 
11.16 covers three of the five possible bases for a determination that the defendant 
 
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is a dangerous sexual felony offender under section 794.0115.  Specifically, new 
instruction 11.16 is limited to findings that the defendant caused serious personal 
injury to the victim as a result of the commission of the offense, used or threatened 
to use a deadly weapon during the commission of the offense, or victimized more 
than one person during the course of the criminal episode applicable to the offense.  
See § 794.0115(2)(a)-(c), Fla. Stat. (2007).  New instruction 11.16(a) covers the 
other two bases for enhancement under section 794.0115 and is intended only to be 
given if the State is seeking an enhanced penalty based on the defendant’s status of 
being on probation or community control, § 794.0115(2)(d), or the offender was 
previously convicted of a qualifying offense.  § 794.0115(2)(e). 
Having considered the Committee’s report and the one comment filed, we 
hereby authorize the publication and use of the instructions, as set forth in the 
appendix to this opinion.  In doing so, we express no opinion on the correctness of 
those instructions 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 
notes and 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 
 
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language is struck through.  The instructions as set forth in the appendix1 shall be 
effective when this opinion becomes final. 
It is so ordered. 
LEWIS, C.J., and WELLS, ANSTEAD, PARIENTE, QUINCE, CANTERO, and 
BELL, JJ., concur. 
 
NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION, AND 
IF FILED, DETERMINED. 
 
Original Proceeding – Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases 
 
Judge Terry David Terrell, Chair, Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury 
Instructions in Criminal Cases, First Judicial Circuit, Pensacola, Florida, 
 
 
for Petitioner 
 
                                          
 
 
1.  The amendments as reflected in the appendix to this opinion 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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APPENDIX 
 
11.16 DANGEROUS SEXUAL FELONY OFFENDER 
§ 794.0115, Fla. Stat. 
 
 
(For crimes committed on or after July 1, 2003.) 
If you find (defendant) guilty of (felony, as identified by section 
794.0115(2), Fla. Stat.) you must then determine whether the State has further 
proved beyond a reasonable doubt: 
 
1. 
(Defendant) was 18 years of age or older at the time of the 
commission of the offense.  
 
and 
 
Give as applicable. 
 
2. 
(Defendant) 
 
 
a. 
caused serious personal injury to (victim) as a result of the 
commission of the offense.  
 
b. 
used or threatened to use a deadly weapon during the 
commission of the offense. 
 
c. 
victimized more than one person during the course of the 
criminal episode applicable to the offense. 
 
Definition. 
“Serious personal injury” means great bodily harm or pain, permanent 
disability, or permanent disfigurement. 
 
Comment 
 
This instruction was adopted in 2008. 
 
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11.16(a) DANGEROUS SEXUAL FELONY OFFENDER 
§ 794.0115, Fla. Stat. 
 
 
(For crimes committed on or after July 1, 2003.) 
(For use when defendant has been found guilty of s. 794.0115(2)(d) or (e), 
Fla. Stat.). 
 
Having found (defendant) guilty of (felony, as identified by section 
794.0115(2), Fla. Stat., that defendant has been found guilty of committing) you 
must now determine whether the State has proven beyond a reasonable doubt 
whether (defendant): 
 
1.  
(Defendant) was 18 years of age or older at the time of the 
commission of the offense 
 
 
 
and 
 
Give as applicable.  
 
2. 
(Defendant) 
 
a. 
committed the offense while under the jurisdiction of a 
court for a felony offense under the laws of this state, for an 
offense that is a felony in another jurisdiction, or for an 
offense that would be a felony if that offense were 
committed in this state. 
 
b. 
had been convicted of (felony, as identified by section 
794.0115(2)(e), Fla. Stat.) before the commission of this 
offense. 
 
Comment 
 
This instruction was adopted in 2008.