State v. Jones

Summary

The court held that a criminal defendant is entitled to a special credibility instruction when an incarcerated informant provides testimony about the defendant's inculpatory statements, even if those statements were made outside prison. Because the informant in this case offered the testimony while incarcerated and in exchange for favorable treatment, the trial court improperly refused the requested instruction. The error was harmful because the informant's testimony was central, inadequately corroborated, and not fully addressed by the general credibility charge.