What are the different types of jury instructions in criminal defense law?

In criminal defense law, jury instructions are legal guidelines presented to the jury to help them decide important points of law in the trial. These instructions can vary from state to state, and in Delaware are divided into two categories: general jury instructions and special jury instructions. General jury instructions are standard instructions that apply to all Delaware criminal cases. They include instructions about factors such as a defendant’s right to remain silent, reasonable doubt, burden of proof, and the jury’s duty to follow the law. Special jury instructions are unique to a particular criminal case, and may include instructions about arguments that the defense attorney is applying or special standards for certain types of evidence, such as witness credibility. In some cases, the judge may also allow the defense attorney and prosecutor to submit particular instructions they want to have the jury consider. This is called a proposed instruction. The judge will review the proposed instruction to make sure it accurately reflects current Delaware law, and if it does, it will be added to the jury instructions along with other special directions from the judge. In conclusion, jury instructions are important guidelines for the jury to consider when deliberating a criminal case in Delaware. These instructions may be general or special instructions and can include proposed instructions from both the defense attorney and prosecutor.

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What are the different types of jury instructions in criminal defense law?

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