A Phoenix Arizona jury instruction, specifically known as the Pinkerton instruction, is a legal guideline that provides jurors with information on how to apply the Pinkerton theory of liability in criminal cases. The Pinkerton instruction is based on a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case, United States v. Pinkerton, which established the concept of "vicarious liability" for federal offenses. The Pinkerton instruction is typically used when multiple individuals are charged with participating in a conspiracy to commit a crime. It allows the jury to find each co-conspirator guilty of both the conspiracy and any reasonably foreseeable acts committed by their fellow conspirators in furtherance of the conspiracy. One type of Pinkerton instruction relates to conspiracy charges. In this case, the instruction informs the jury that if they find a defendant guilty of the conspiracy charge, they can also find them guilty of any other crime committed by a co-conspirator in furtherance of the conspiracy. The jury must determine if the additional crime was reasonably foreseeable and within the scope of the agreed-upon conspiracy. Another type of Pinkerton instruction pertains to offenses committed by an aider and abettor. This instruction clarifies that if the jury finds a defendant guilty of aiding and abetting the commission of a crime, they can also find them guilty of any other crime committed by the principal offender, as long as it was reasonably foreseeable and within the scope of the aided offense. The purpose of the Pinkerton instruction is to hold individuals accountable for the foreseeable actions of their co-conspirators or those they aid and abet in the commission of a crime. It recognizes that participants in a criminal conspiracy shoulder collective responsibility for all offenses committed in furtherance of the conspiracy, even if they were not directly involved in those acts. The Phoenix Arizona jury instruction — Pinkerton instruction plays a crucial role in guiding jurors to make informed decisions when determining the guilt or innocence of defendants accused of conspiracy or aiding and abetting offenses. By providing clear guidelines on vicarious liability, this instruction ensures a fair and just legal process by accurately reflecting the principles established in United States v. Pinkerton.