Colorado Jury Instruction Aboutou— - Knowingly - Only When Willfulness or Specific Intent is Not an Element is a legal instruction provided to juries in Colorado courts. This jury instruction pertains to cases where the charged offense does not require the defendant to have acted willfully or with specific intent. In such cases, the jury is informed that the prosecution is not required to prove that the defendant had a willful or specific intent to commit the offense. Instead, the defendant can be found guilty if the prosecution establishes that he or she acted knowingly and that the act occurred on or about the alleged date provided in the charges. This instruction helps clarify that the accused person's state of mind is not under scrutiny, as the focus is solely on whether they acted knowingly and not necessarily willfully or with a specific intent. Different scenarios where this jury instruction may be used include charges related to drug possession, certain traffic violations, or even minor offenses. In these cases, the accused's state of mind might not be a relevant factor to determine their guilt. For example, if a person is found in possession of a controlled substance, the court may instruct the jury to find the defendant guilty if they acted knowingly and the offense occurred on or about the alleged date, without requiring the prosecution to prove any specific intent or willful action. The purpose of this instruction is to ensure that the legal process remains fair, as it recognizes that not all offenses require a showing of willfulness or specific intent. By using this instruction, the jury can focus on the elements that are necessary for conviction in such cases, without being burdened with considering the accused's state of mind. Overall, Colorado Jury Instruction Aboutou— - Knowingly - Only When Willfulness or Specific Intent is Not an Element helps facilitate a more straightforward legal process in cases where intent is not a crucial component, ensuring a fair and efficient jury deliberation.