CALCRIM No. 253. Union of Act and Intent: Criminal Negligence

Judicial Council of California Criminal Jury Instructions (2020 edition)

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253.Union of Act and Intent: Criminal Negligence
For you to find a person guilty of the crime[s] of <insert
name[s] of alleged offense[s]> [or to find the allegation[s] of
<insert name[s] of enhancement[s]> true], a person must do an act [or
fail to do an act] with (criminal/gross) negligence. (Criminal/Gross)
negligence is defined in the instructions on that crime.
New January 2006; Revised June 2007
BENCH NOTES
Instructional Duty
This instruction is provided for the court to use when instructing on an offense for
which criminal or gross negligence is an element. Do not give this instruction if
only general or specific-intent offenses are presented to the jury. (People v. Lara
(1996) 44 Cal.App.4th 102, 110 [51 Cal.Rptr.2d 402].) Although no case has held
that the court has a sua sponte duty to give this instruction, the committee
recommends that the instruction be given, if applicable, as a matter of caution.
The court must specify for the jury which offenses require criminal negligence by
inserting the names of the offenses where indicated in the instruction. (See People v.
Hill (1967) 67 Cal.2d 105, 118 [60 Cal.Rptr. 234, 429 P.2d 586].)
The court should select either “criminal” or “gross” based on the words used in the
instruction on the elements of the underlying offense.
AUTHORITY
• Statutory Authority. Pen. Code, § 20; see also Evid. Code, §§ 665, 668.
• Criminal or Gross Negligence Defined. People v. Penny (1955) 44 Cal.2d 861,
879 [285 P.2d 926]; People v. Rodriguez (1960) 186 Cal.App.2d 433, 440 [8
Cal.Rptr. 863].
SECONDARY SOURCES
1 Witkin & Epstein, California Criminal Law (4th ed. 2012) Elements, § 21.
6 Millman, Sevilla & Tarlow, California Criminal Defense Practice, Ch. 140,
Challenges to Crimes, § 140.02[1], [4] (Matthew Bender).
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