General instructions

Official jury instruction text reproduced for information. It is not legal advice; the instruction given in a case depends on the facts and the court.

These instructions are not about a specific crime (trial procedure, definitions, defenses, findings). They are listed here and link to the official source.

Florida Standard Jury Instructions (Criminal)

Official source: The Florida Bar: criminal jury instructions · Florida Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases, complete set published by The Florida Bar, updated October 9, 2026

Chapter 1: INSTRUCTION BEFORE TRIAL

1.0QUALIFICATIONS INSTRUCTION
1.1INTRODUCTION
1.2JURY SELECTION [RESERVED]
1.3CHALLENGES TO JURORS [RESERVED]
1.4STATEMENT OF THE CHARGE [RESERVED]
1.5QUESTIONING IN CAPITAL CASES [RESERVED]
1.6PRO SE DEFENDANT

Chapter 2: INSTRUCTIONS DURING TRIAL

2.1PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS
2.1(a)NOTE-TAKING BY JURORS
2.1(b)JURY TO BE GUIDED BY OFFICIAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION/INTERPRETATION PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS
2.1(c)QUESTIONS BY JURORS
2.1(d)PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATION
2.2INSTRUCTION ON EDITED RECORDING
2.3STIPULATIONS
2.4EVIDENCE OF OTHER CRIMES, WRONGS, OR ACTS
2.4(a)EVIDENCE OF OTHER CRIMES, WRONGS, OR ACTS [OF CHILD MOLESTATION] [INVOLVING A SEXUAL OFFENSE]
2.5CONVICTION OF CERTAIN CRIMES AS IMPEACHMENT
2.6USE OF TRANSCRIPTS OF RECORDINGS
2.7CLOSING ARGUMENT
2.8RECORDED INTERVIEW (EFFECT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STATEMENTS ON THE DEFENDANT)
2.9JURY TO BE GUIDED BY OFFICIAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION/INTERPRETATION INSTRUCTIONS DURING TRIAL
2.10JURY TO BE GUIDED BY OFFICIAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION/INTERPRETATION TRANSCRIPT OF RECORDING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE (ACCURACY NOT IN DISPUTE)
2.11JURY TO BE GUIDED BY OFFICIAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION/INTERPRETATION TRANSCRIPT OF RECORDING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE (ACCURACY IN DISPUTE)
2.12JURY TO BE GUIDED BY OFFICIAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION/INTERPRETATION CLOSING INSTRUCTIONS
2.13PRIOR INCONSISTENT STATEMENT AS IMPEACHMENT
2.14JUDICIAL NOTICE

Chapter 3: FINAL CHARGE TO THE JURY

3.1INTRODUCTION TO FINAL INSTRUCTIONS
3.2STATEMENT OF CHARGE
3.3(a)AGGRAVATION OF (NAME OF FELONY) BY [CARRYING] [DISPLAYING] [USING] [THREATENING TO USE] [ATTEMPTING TO USE] A [FIREARM] [WEAPON]
3.3(b)AGGRAVATION OF A CRIME WHEN COMMITTED BY AN UNAUTHORIZED ALIEN
3.3(c)AGGRAVATION OF A FELONY BY COMMITTING AN AGGRAVATED BATTERY
3.3(d)POSSESSION OF A [FIREARM] [DESTRUCTIVE DEVICE] [AND DISCHARGE] [CAUSING [GREAT BODILY HARM] [DEATH]]
3.3(e)AGGRAVATION OF A FELONY BY WEARING A HOOD, MASK, OR OTHER DEVICE TO CONCEAL IDENTITY
3.3(f)AGGRAVATION OF A CRIME BY SELECTING A VICTIM BASED ON PREJUDICE
3.3(g)BIFURCATED TRIAL INSTRUCTION – PHASE TWO
3.3(h)WILLFUL BLINDNESS
3.3(i)DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
3.3(j)AGGRAVATION OF TRAFFICKING IN [FENTANYL] [INSERT RELEVANT CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE]
3.4LESSER INCLUDED CRIMES
3.5(a)PRINCIPALS
3.5(b)PRINCIPALS — WHEN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT HIRED BY DEFENDANT
3.6(a)INSANITY
3.6(b)INSANITY — HALLUCINATIONS
3.6(c)PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATION
3.6(d)VOLUNTARY INTOXICATION
3.6(e)(1)INVOLUNTARY INTOXICATION
3.6(e)(2)INVOLUNTARY INTOXICATION RESULTING IN INSANITY
3.6(f)JUSTIFIABLE [USE] [OR] [THREATENED USE] OF DEADLY FORCE
3.6(g)JUSTIFIABLE [USE] [OR] [THREATENED USE] OF NON-DEADLY FORCE
3.6(h)JUSTIFIABLE USE OF FORCE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
3.6(i)ALIBI
3.6(j)ENTRAPMENT
3.6(k)DURESS OR NECESSITY
3.6(l)INDEPENDENT ACT
3.6(m)AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE: TEMPORARY POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE FOR LEGAL DISPOSAL
3.6(n)AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE: CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE WAS LAWFULLY OBTAINED FROM A PRACTITIONER OR PURSUANT TO A VALID PRESCRIPTION
3.6(o)TRANSFERRED INTENT
3.6(p)ABNORMAL MENTAL CONDITION
3.7PLEA OF NOT GUILTY; REASONABLE DOUBT; AND BURDEN OF PROOF
3.8(a)EVIDENCE OF OTHER CRIMES, WRONGS, OR ACTS
3.8(b)EVIDENCE OF OTHER CRIMES, WRONGS, OR ACTS [OF CHILD MOLESTATION] [INVOLVING A SEXUAL OFFENSE]
3.8(c)DISREGARDING EVIDENCE [RESERVED]
3.8(d)DATE OF CRIME
3.8(e)VENUE
3.9WEIGHING THE EVIDENCE
3.9(a)DEFENDANT NOT TESTIFYING
3.9(b)DEFENDANT’S STATEMENTS
3.9(c)EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATION
3.10RULES FOR DELIBERATION
3.11CAUTIONARY INSTRUCTION
3.12VERDICT
3.12(a)SINGLE DEFENDANT, MULTIPLE COUNTS OR INFORMATIONS
3.12(b)SINGLE COUNT, MULTIPLE DEFENDANTS
3.12(c)MULTIPLE COUNTS OR INFORMATIONS, MULTIPLE DEFENDANTS
3.12(d)LEGALLY INTERLOCKING COUNTS
3.12(e)JURY VERDICT FORM—PENALTY PHASE
3.12(f)CRIME LEGALLY INTERLOCKING WITH A SPECIAL FINDING WITHIN THAT SAME COUNT
3.13SUBMITTING CASE TO JURY
3.14SCORESHEET FINDINGS
3.15VIOLENT OFFENSES COMMITTED AGAINST SPECIFIED JUSTICE SYSTEM PERSONNEL
3.16PRISON RELEASEE REOFFENDER FINDINGS
3.17HABITUAL FELONY OFFENDER* FINDINGS
3.18HABITUAL VIOLENT FELONY OFFENDER* FINDINGS
3.19VIOLENT CAREER CRIMINAL* FINDINGS
3.20NONSTATE PRISON SANCTION/DANGER TO PUBLIC
3.21THREE TIME VIOLENT FELONY OFFENDER FINDINGS*

Chapter 4: SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONS

4.1JURY DEADLOCK
4.2INSTRUCTION UPON DISCHARGE OF JURY
4.3ANSWERS TO JUROR INQUIRIES DURING DELIBERATIONS
4.4REQUEST FOR [READ-BACK] [PLAY-BACK] OR TRANSCRIPT OF TESTIMONY

Chapter 6: ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE

6.1INTRODUCTION TO ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE
6.5ATTEMPTED FELONY MURDER — THIRD DEGREE
6.7ATTEMPTED MURDER — RECLASSIFIED (BY VICTIM’S EMPLOYMENT AS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, CORRECTIONAL OFFICER, ETC.)

Chapter 7: HOMICIDE

7.1INTRODUCTION TO HOMICIDE
7.10PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS IN PENALTY PROCEEDINGS — CAPITAL CASES
7.11FINAL INSTRUCTIONS IN PENALTY PROCEEDINGS — CAPITAL CASES
7.12DIALOGUE FOR POLLING THE JURY (DEATH PENALTY CASE)
7.13MURDER – RECLASSIFIED (BY VICTIM’S EMPLOYMENT AS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, CORRECTIONAL OFFICER, ETC.)
7.14ENMUND/TISON FINDINGS

Chapter 10: WEAPONS OFFENSES

10.4[RESERVED]
10.7[RESERVED]
10.17USE OF A BB GUN BY A PERSON UNDER 16 [§ 790.22 RESERVED]

Chapter 11: SEX OFFENSES

11.14(h)SEXUAL OFFENDER DEFINITIONS
11.15(l)SEXUAL PREDATOR DEFINITIONS
11.16DANGEROUS SEXUAL FELONY OFFENDER
11.16(a)DANGEROUS SEXUAL FELONY OFFENDER

Chapter 13: BURGLARY AND TRESPASS

13.9TRESPASS WITH LARCENY OF UTILITY SERVICES [§ 812.14 RESERVED]

Chapter 17: FORGERY AND WORTHLESS CHECKS

17.5STOPPING PAYMENT ON A CHECK [§ 832.041 RESERVED]
17.6VENDING AND COUNTERFEIT TRADEMARKS [§ 831.05 RESERVED]

Chapter 20: FRAUD

20.1FRAUDULENT PRACTICES ACT [§§ 817.03–817.49 RESERVED]
20.2FRAUD IN OBTAINING DRUGS [§ 831.30 RESERVED]

Chapter 24: OBSCENITY

24.7EXPOSING MINORS TO HARMFUL MOVIES OR PICTURES [§ 847.013 RESERVED]

Chapter 26: RACKETEERING

26.1RACKETEER INFLUENCED AND CORRUPT ORGANIZATIONS ACT [RESERVED]

Eleventh Circuit Pattern Jury Instructions (Criminal), used in the Southern District of Florida

Official source: PDF · Eleventh Circuit Pattern Jury Instructions (Criminal Cases), revised July 2026