Queens New York Jury Instruction: "On or about" is a legal term used in Queens, New York, jury instructions to establish a flexible time frame when determining the occurrence of a certain act or offense. This instruction allows jurors to consider events that happened near the alleged date or time, giving them room to address any small discrepancies in the evidence presented during the trial. Understanding the concepts of "knowingly," "willfulness," and "specific intent" is crucial when interpreting this instruction. When willfulness or specific intent is not an element, jurors are instructed to focus on whether the defendant acted knowingly. This means that the defendant was aware of their actions and understood the probable consequences, but they may not have necessarily intended for those consequences to occur. This instruction recognizes that in some cases, knowledge alone is sufficient to establish guilt, even if there was no deliberate intention to cause harm or commit a specific offense. Different types of Queens New York Jury Instruction Aboutou— - Knowingly - Only When Willfulness or Specific Intent is Not an Element can include various criminal cases where the absence of willfulness or specific intent is a crucial factor. Some examples may encompass: 1. Drug Possession: When an individual is charged with drug possession, the jury must determine if the defendant knowingly possessed the controlled substance or substances, regardless of their intentions or motives for having it. This type of instruction is commonly used in drug-related offenses where proving intent can be challenging. 2. Assault: In assault cases, this instruction may be given to the jury when the defendant's knowledge of causing harm or injury to another person is sufficient for a conviction, even if there is no evidence of premeditation or specific intent to harm the victim. 3. Theft: When a defendant is accused of theft, whether it is shoplifting, burglary, or any other form of theft offense, this instruction may apply if the prosecution does not have to prove the defendant's willfulness or specific intent to permanently deprive the owner of their property. The focus is on whether the defendant knowingly took control of someone else's property without permission. 4. Reckless Endangerment: This instruction might be given in cases where a defendant's reckless actions pose a substantial risk of serious harm to others. Instead of proving an intent to cause harm, the jury determines whether the defendant acted knowingly, being aware of the potential consequences of their behavior. Understanding the complexity of Queens New York Jury Instructions Aboutou— - Knowingly - Only When Willfulness or Specific Intent is Not an Element is crucial for jurors to make fair and accurate determinations. It ensures that defendants are not unjustly held accountable for specific intentions or willful acts when knowledge alone is sufficient to establish guilt.