New York Jury Instruction — DeliberatIgnorancenc— - As Proof Of Knowledge: Detailed Description and Types New York jury instructions provide guidance and clarification to jurors during the trial process. One important instruction that may be given in a trial is the "Deliberate Ignorance — As Proof Of Knowledge" instruction. This instruction is used when the defendant claims to have lacked knowledge or awareness of certain facts or circumstances, despite evidence indicating otherwise. In such cases, the jury can consider deliberate ignorance as proof of knowledge. Deliberate ignorance, also known as willful blindness, is a concept that recognizes that individuals may intentionally avoid or overlook information in order to maintain plausible deniability or escape legal liability. It implies that even if a defendant claims lack of knowledge, evidence that suggests they purposely avoided obtaining information can be accepted as proof of their awareness. There are different types of New York jury instructions related to deliberate ignorance, which include: 1. Deliberate Ignorance — Willful Blindness: Here, the jury is instructed to consider evidence that demonstrates the defendant's deliberate efforts to remain uninformed about crucial facts, even when they had reason to believe otherwise. The jury can infer that the defendant intentionally avoided knowledge and therefore possessed awareness of the illegal activity or circumstance. 2. Deliberate Ignorance — Conscious Avoidance: This instruction focuses on situations where the defendant consciously avoids learning the truth about certain facts, despite suspecting their involvement in illegal activities. If the jury finds that the defendant consciously chose not to investigate or seek information, they can interpret this as proof of knowledge. It is important to note that in both types of instructions, the prosecution must establish the defendant's awareness of the facts or circumstances and provide evidence indicating their deliberate ignorance. The exact wording and application of the jury instructions can differ depending on the specific case and the judge's discretion. In summary, the New York jury instruction of deliberate ignorance as proof of knowledge allows the jury to consider evidence suggesting that the defendant intentionally avoided acquiring information in order to evade legal responsibility. By highlighting deliberate ignorance, the instruction aims to prevent defendants from using claims of lack of knowledge as a defense in situations where they may have been willfully blind or consciously avoided seeking the truth.