Nassau New York Jury Instruction — Character Evidence refers to the set of instructions provided to a jury in Nassau County, New York, regarding the rules and principles governing the admission and evaluation of character evidence in a trial. Character evidence is information or testimony pertaining to a person's general disposition or moral character that can be presented to establish the likelihood of their guilt or innocence. In Nassau County, there are different types of jury instructions related to character evidence that may be given, including: 1. Nassau New York Jury Instruction — Character Evidence: The basic instructions outline the general rules governing the admissibility and assessment of character evidence. It explains to the jury that character evidence should not be considered as proof of guilt or innocence but can only be used to evaluate a person's credibility or propensity to commit the crime in question. 2. Nassau New York Jury Instruction — Good Character: This instruction focuses on the defendant's good character and instructs the jury that evidence of the defendant's good character can be presented by the defense as a means to suggest their innocence or lack of motive to commit the alleged offense. 3. Nassau New York Jury Instruction — Bad Character: This instruction deals with the introduction of evidence related to a defendant's bad character, which may be offered by the prosecution to imply a propensity to commit the crime charged. It instructs the jury on how they should evaluate and weigh such evidence and whether it can be considered as proof of guilt. 4. Nassau New York Jury Instruction — Prior Acts: This instruction guides the jury on the use of prior acts or crimes committed by the defendant, which may be presented to demonstrate a pattern of behavior or modus operandi. It clarifies the limited purposes for which such evidence may be admitted and the importance of not using it as substantive proof of guilt. These jury instructions aim to ensure the fair and unbiased evaluation of character evidence in Nassau County trials, providing clear guidelines to the jury members about what evidence they may consider and how it should be utilized in their deliberations. Adhering to these instructions promotes a just and balanced trial process, where character evidence is given appropriate weight and does not unduly influence the outcome of the case.