Updating Colorado Criminal Jury Instructions

Think of jury instructions as guidelines given by judges to juries prior to deliberation. Researchers are also interested in jury instructions because they outline law which provides elements for establishing liability or guilt and include citations to related cases and statutes. In this state, the Colorado Supreme Court is responsible for generating criminal jury instructions.

The court delegates updating duties to the Supreme Court Model Criminal Jury Instructions Committee where researchers may find links to interim revisions with full text of updates and corresponding legal citations. The 2008 revisions are:

Table of Contents
Preface
Ch. A: General Directions
Ch. B: Jury Orientation
Ch. C: General Instructions
Ch. D: Evidentiary Instructions
Ch. E: Concluding General Instructions
Ch. F: Definitions
Ch. G1: Culpability
Ch. G2: Inchoate Offenses: Attempt and Conspiracy
Ch. H: Affirmative Defenses
Ch. I: Sanity
Ch. J: General Interrogatory Form and Verdict Form
Ch. 3-1: Homicide and Related Offenses
Ch. 3-2: Assault and Related Offenses
Ch. 3-3: Kidnapping and Related Offenses
Ch. 3-4: Unlawful Sexual Behavior
Ch. 4-1: Arson
Ch. 4-2: Burglary
Ch. 4-3: Robbery
Ch. 4-4: Theft
Ch. 4-5: Trespass and Criminal Mischief
Ch. 5: Offense Involving Fraud and Forgery
Ch. 6: Incest, Child Abuse and Wrongs to Children
Ch. 6.5: Crimes At-Risk Adults and Juveniles
Ch. 7-7: Sexual Conduct in Penal Institutions
Ch. 8-1: Accessory
Ch. 8-2: Escape and Offenses Relating to Custody
Ch. 9-1: Stalking (Public Peace and Order)
Ch. 12: Offenses Relating to Firearms and Weapons
Ch. 18: Offenses Relating to Controlled Substances
Ch. 42: Motor Vehicles and Traffic

West publishes both civil and criminal jury instructions in separate volumes. See:
• Colorado Jury Instructions, Civil
• Colorado Jury Instructions, Criminal , click Access 2008 revisions and updates.

Online researchers can use Westlaw (fee-based) from the Library's website, see link. Once you have logged on to the dababase, go to CO-JICRIM (Colorado Jury Instructions – Criminal) or CO-JICIV (Colorado Jury Instructions – Civil) databases.

Written by Sheila Green, Reference Librarian