OUJI-CR 10-13

RETURN OF VERDICT -- BASIC INSTRUCTION

If you find beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crime of [Crime Charged], you shall return a verdict of guilty by marking the Verdict Form [for the crime of (Crime Charged)] appropriately.

If you have a reasonable doubt of the defendant's guilt of the charge of [Crime Charged], or you find that the State has failed to prove each element of [Crime Charged] beyond a reasonable doubt, you shall return a verdict of not guilty by marking the Verdict Form [for the crime of (Crime Charged)] appropriately.

If you find the defendant guilty, you shall then determine the proper punishment. The crime of [Crime Charged] is punishable by [Range of Punishment (including any mandatory fine)]. [You may also impose a fine not exceeding one/ten thousand dollars ($1,000/10,000).] When you have decided on the proper punishment, you shall fill in the appropriate space on the Verdict Form [for the crime of (Crime Charged)] and return the verdict to the Court.

______________________________

Notes on Use

This instruction should be used in cases where there are no lesser included offenses charged, and there is no sentence enhancement for prior convictions. For instructions in cases involving lesser included offenses, see OUJI-CR 10-23 through 10-27. For instructions in cases involving sentence enhancement for prior convictions, see OUJI-CR 10-15 through 10-22. OUJI-CR 10-13A or 10-13B should be used for crimes listed in 21 O.S. Supp. 2024, § 13.1, and OUJI-CR 10-13C should be used for crimes requiring post-imprisonment community supervision.

The Oklahoma Sentencing Modernization Act of 2024 (the "Sentencing Act") is effective beginning on January 1, 2026.  2024 Okla. Sess. Law Serv. Ch. 366 (H.B. 1792).  It applies to crimes committed on or after that date.  Witherow v. State, 2017 OK CR 17, ¶ 6, 400 P.3d 902, 904.  The Sentencing Act establishes a classification system for felonies that has 15 classes.   21 O.S. Supp. 2024, § 20A.  The punishments for Classes Y, A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, and B6 are as provided for in the Oklahoma Statutes for the various crimes.  21 O.S. Supp. 2024, §§ 20B-20K.   However, the punishments for Classes C1, C2, D1, D2, and D3 are uniform for each class, except for certain specified crimes.  21 O.S. Supp. 2024, §§ 20L-20P.   See the chart below.

At the time of adoption, the Sentencing Act provided for the ranges of punishment for a first offense that are shown in the above chart.  In order to instruct the jury on the proper range of punishment, the trial court must determine the class of the crime, and if the crime is in Class C1, C2, D1, D2, or D3, the court must adapt the sentencing instructions to the particular class of the crime in the Sentencing Act. For example, the range of punishment for Class C1 is "imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term of not more than eight (8) years." Instruction 10-13A should be given with this instruction for the crimes specified in 21 O.S. Supp. 2024, §§ 13.1, 20L, 20M, 20N, 20O, or 20P.
 

For any offense for which no fine is otherwise provided by law, the punishment may include a fine imposed under 21 O.S. 2021, § 64. Daniels v. State, 2016 OK CR 2, ¶ 5, 369 P.3d 381, 384; Fite v. State, 1993 OK CR 58, ¶¶ 8-11, 873 P.2d 293, 295. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals has provided an example of a proper instruction in Daniels v. State, as follows: "The crime of SHOOTING WITH INTENT TO KILL is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary not exceeding life. In addition, you may also impose a fine not exceeding ten thousand ($10,000.00) dollars." 2016 OK CR 2, ¶ 5, 369 P.3d 381, 384.
 

If there are multiple counts, this instruction should be repeated for each count, and the instruction should conclude with the statement: "You may find the defendant guilty of [one or both] [some or all] counts or not guilty of [one or both] [some or all] counts."
 

The Committee recommends individual Verdict Forms on separate sheets of paper for each Count. A Verdict Form to go with this instruction is provided in OUJI-CR 10-14, infra.

(2025 Supp.)