In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases - Report 2017-11

Summary

The court authorized amended versions of six criminal jury instructions concerning battery-related offenses for publication and use. The amendments clarify that battery may involve intentional contact with an object sufficiently connected to the victim, add a procedure for determining prior battery convictions used for reclassification, clarify that victim-age knowledge is unnecessary for an enhanced battery offense, and conform the facility-employee instruction to the governing statute. The court declined to authorize three other proposed amendments and referred them back for further consideration.