The March 24, 2020 meeting at which the March 2020 CALCRIM revisions were to be approved was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. See https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/releases-20200323
The following revisions (highlighted in red) are some of the changes which were to be considered — and presumably approved — at the March meeting:
Personal pronouns
Many instructions include an option to insert the personal pronouns “he/she,” “his/her,” or “him/her.” The committee does not intend these options to be limiting. It is the policy of the State of California that nonbinary people are entitled to full legal recognition and equal treatment under the law. In accordance with this policy, attorneys and courts should ensure that they are using preferred personal pronouns.
101 para 2
During the trial, do not talk about the case or about any of the people or any subject involved in the case with anyone, not even your family, friends, spiritual advisors, or therapists. You may only say that you are on a jury and the anticipated length of the trial, and you may inform others of scheduling and emergency contact information. Do not share any information about the case by any means of communication, including in writing, by email, by telephone, on the Internet, social media, Internet chat rooms, and blogsor by any other means of communication. You must not talk about these things with other jurors either, until you begin deliberating.
para 5
Do not use the Internet (, a dictionary/[, or <insert other relevant source of information or means of communication>]) in any way in connection with this case, either on your own or as a group. Do not investigate the facts or the law or do any research regarding this case or any of its participants.
para 10; 200, para 3
You must not let bias, sympathy, prejudice, or public opinion influence your assessment of the evidence or your decision. Many people have assumptions and biases about or stereotypes of other people and may be unaware of them. You must not be biased in favor of or against any party, witness, attorney, defendant[s], or alleged victim because of his or her disability, gender, nationality, national origin, race or ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, [or] age (./,) [or socioeconomic status] (./,) [or
<insert any other impermissible form of bias>.]
You must reach your verdict without any consideration of punishment.
334, Benchnotes re: para beginning with “The burden is on the defendant…”
Give the bracketed sentence that begins with “The burden is on the defendant” unless acting with an accomplice is an element of the charged crime. (People v. Martinez (2019) 34 Cal.App.5th 721, 723 [246 Cal.Rptr.3d 442].) Martinez only involved charges where acting as an accomplice was an element.
361. Failure to Explain or Deny Adverse TestimonyEvidence
Bench notes
There is a split in authority over the application of People v. Saddler (1979) 24 Cal.3d 671, 682–683 [156 Cal.Rptr. 871, 597 P.2d 130] [instruction erroneously given because there was no evidence that defendant failed to deny or explain incriminating evidence] and whether this instruction should be given when a testifying defendant fails to explain or deny incriminating evidence in the absence of a question. (Compare People v. Grandberry (2019) 35 Cal.App.5th 599, 609 [247 Cal.Rptr.3d 258] [approving use of the instruction “when a testifying defendant has failed to explain or deny matters within the scope of relevant cross- examination, not simply those matters that were asked of the defendant on cross- examination”] with People v. Roehler (1985) 167 Cal.App.3d 353, 392 [213 Cal.Rptr. 353] [“If a defendant has not been asked an appropriate question calling for either an explanation or denial, the instruction cannot be given, as a matter of law”] and People v. Vega (2015) 236 Cal.App.4th 484, 497 [186 Cal.Rptr.3d 671] [noting restrictions for when the instruction may be given and quoting Roehler].)
If the court follows Grandberry, the trial court must ascertain as a matter of law: (1) if the matter was within the scope of relevant cross-examination; (2) if the defendant knew the facts necessary to explain or deny incriminating evidence or if
377. Presence of Support Person/Dog/Dog Handler (Pen. Code, §§ 868.4, 868.5)
_ <insert name of witness> (will have/has/had) a (person/dog) present during (his/her) testimony. Do not consider the presence of the support (person’s/dog’s [and dog handler]) presence who (is/was) with the witness for any purpose or allow it to distract you.
New March 2018; Revised March 2020
BENCH NOTES
Instructional Duty
The court may give this instruction on request. If instructing on support persons, this instruction only applies to prosecution witnesses.
AUTHORITY
- ElementsPen. Code, §§ 868.4, 5.
378–399. Reserved for Future Use
507 Justifiable Homicide: By Public Peace Officer
The defendant is not guilty of (murder/ [or] manslaughter/attempted murder/ [or] attempted voluntary manslaughter) if (he/she) (killed/attempted to kill/killed) someone while (acting as a public peace officer/obeying a public peace officer’s command for aid and assistance). Such (A/Ana/an) [attempted] killing is justified, and therefore not unlawful, if:
- The defendant was (a public peace officer/obeying a public peace officer’s command for aid and assistance);
AND
- The [attempted] killing was committed while the defendant either: (taking back into custody a convicted felon [or felons] who had escaped from prison or confinement[,]/ arresting a person [or persons] charged with a felony who (was/were) resisting arrest or fleeing from justice[,]/ overcoming actual resistance to some legal process[,]/ [or] while performing any [other] legal duty);
- Reasonably believed, based on the totality of the circumstances, that the force was necessary to defend against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to the defendant or another person;
OR
- Reasonably believed, based on the totality of the circumstances, that:
B1. <insert name of fleeing felon> was fleeing;
B2. The force was necessary to arrest or detain <insert name of fleeing felon > for the crime of <insert name of felony >;
B3. The commission of the crime of _ <insert name of felony> created a risk of or resulted in death or serious bodily injury to another person;
AND
B4. <insert name of fleeing felon > would cause death or serious bodily injury to another person unless immediately arrested or detained.
- The [attempted] killing was necessary to accomplish (one of those/that) lawful purpose[s];
AND
- The defendant had probable cause to believe that ( _
<insert name of decedent> posed a threat of death or great bodily injury, either to the defendant or to others/[or] that _
<insert name of decedent> had committed (_ _<insert forcible and atrocious crime>/ _<insert crime decedent was suspected of committing, e.g., burglary>), and that crime threatened the defendant or others with death or great bodily injury)]. <See Bench Note discussing this element.>
A person has probable cause to believe that someone poses a threat of death or great bodily injury when facts known to the person would persuade someone of reasonable caution that the other person is going to cause death or great bodily injury to another.
[A serious bodily injury means a serious impairment of physical condition. Such an injury may include[, but is not limited to]: (loss of consciousness/ concussion/ bone fracture/ protracted loss or impairment of function of any bodily member or organ/ a wound requiring extensive suturing/ [and] serious disfigurement).]
[A threat of death or serious bodily injury is imminent when, based on the totality of the circumstances, a reasonable officer in the same situation would believe that a person has the present ability, opportunity, and apparent intent to immediately cause death or serious bodily injury to the peace officer or to another person. An imminent harm is not merely a fear of future harm, no matter how great the fear and no matter how great the likelihood of the harm, but is one that, from appearances, must be instantly confronted and addressed.]
[Totality of the circumstances means all facts known to the defendant at the time, including the conduct of the defendant and <insert name of decedent> leading up to the use of deadly force.]
[In considering the totality of circumstances, you may consider whether: [● A reasonable officer would have believed that _<insert name of fleeing felon> posed an imminent threat of death or serious
bodily injury to the defendant or to another person(;/.)]
[● Prior to the use of force, the defendant [identified] [or] [attempted to identify] him or herself as a peace officer and [warned] [or] [attempted to warn] that deadly force may be used(;/.)]
[● Prior to the use of force, the defendant had objectively reasonable grounds to believe the person was aware that the defendant was a peace officer and that deadly force may be used(;/.)]
[● [The defendant was able, under the circumstances, to [identify] [or] [attempt to identify] him or herself as a peace officer] [and] [to warn] [or] [attempt to warn] that deadly force may be used.]]
[A peace officer who makes or attempts to make an arrest need not retreat or stop because the person being arrested is resisting or threatening to resist. A peace officer does not lose (his/her) right to self-defense by using objectively reasonable force to arrest or to prevent escape or to overcome resistance.] [An officer or employee of <insert name of state or local government agency that employs public officer> is a public officer.]
Great bodily injury means significant or substantial physical injury. It is an injury that is greater than minor or moderate harm.
[A person who is employed as a police officer by <insert name of agency that employs police officer> is a peace officer.]
[A person employed by <insert name of agency that employs peace officer, e.g., “the Department of Fish and Wildlife”> is a peace officer if
<insert description of facts necessary to make employee a peace officer, e.g, “designated by the director of the agency as a peace officer”>.]
The People have the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the [attempted] killing was not justified. If the People have not met this burden, you must find the defendant not guilty of [attempted] (murder/ [or] manslaughter).
New January 2006; Revised April 2011, February 2012, August 2012, March
2020
BENCH NOTES
Instructional Duty
The court has a sua sponte duty to instruct on justifiable homicide when “it appears that the defendant is relying on such a defense, or if there is substantial evidence supportive of such a defense and the defense is not inconsistent with the defendant’s theory of the case.” (See People v. Breverman (1998) 19 Cal.4th 142, 156 [77 Cal.Rptr.2d 870, 960 P.2d 1094] [addressing sua sponte duty to instruct on self-defense].)
Penal Code sections 196 and 835a, as amended by Statutes 2019, ch.170 (A.B. 392), became effective on January 1, 2020. If the defendant’s act occurred before this date, the court should give the prior version of this instruction.
In element 2, select the phrase appropriate for the facts of the case.
It is unclear whether the officer must always have probable cause to believe that the victim poses a threat of future harm or if it is sufficient if the officer has probable cause to believe that the victim committed a forcible and atrocious crime. In Tennessee v. Garner (1985) 471 U.S. 1, 3, 11 [105 S.Ct. 1694, 85 L.Ed.2d 1],
the Supreme Court held that, under the Fourth Amendment, deadly force may not be used to prevent the escape of an apparently unarmed suspected felon unless it is necessary to prevent the escape and the officer has probable cause to believe that the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others. “Garner necessarily limits the scope of justification for homicide under section 197, subdivision 4, and other similar statutes from the date of that decision.” (People v. Martin (1985) 168 Cal.App.3d 1111, 1124 [214 Cal.Rptr.
873].) In a footnote, Garner, supra, 471 U.S. 1, 16, fn. 15, noted that California law permits a killing in either situation, that is, when the suspect has committed an atrocious crime or when the suspect poses a threat of future harm. (See also Long Beach Police Officers Assn v. City of Long Beach (1976) 61 Cal.App.3d 364, 371- 375 [132 Cal.Rptr. 348] [also stating the rule as “either” but quoting police regulations, which require that the officer always believe there is a risk of future harm.]) The committee has provided both options, but see People v. Ceballos (1974) 12 Cal.3d 470, 478-479 [116 Cal.Rptr. 233, 526 P.2d 241]. The court
should review relevant case law before giving the bracketed language.
As with a peace officer, tThe jury must determine whether the defendant was a public peace officer. (People v. Brown (1988) 46 Cal.3d 432, 444–445 [250 Cal.Rptr. 604, 758 P.2d 1135].) The court may instruct the jury in the appropriate definition of “public peace officer” from the statute (e.g., “a Garden Grove Regular Police Officer and a Garden Grove Reserve Police Officer are public peace officers”). (Ibid.) However, the court may not instruct the jury that the defendant was a public peace officer as a matter of law (e.g., “Officer Reed was a public peace officer”). (Ibid.) If the defendant is a police officer, give the bracketed sentence that begins with “A person employed as a police officer.” If the
defendant is another type of peace officer, give the bracketed sentence that begins with “A person employed by.”
Related Instructions
CALCRIM No. 508, Justifiable Homicide: Citizen Arrest (Non-Peace Officer).
CALCRIM No. 509, Justifiable Homicide: Non-Peace Officer Preserving the Peace.
AUTHORITY
- Justifiable Homicide by Public Peace Pen. Code, §§ 196, 199, 835a;
Tennessee v. Garner (1985) 471 U.S. 1 [105 S.Ct. 1694, 85 L.Ed.2d 1].
- Burden of Proof.Pen. Code, § 189.5; People v. Frye (1992) 7 Cal.App.4th 1148, 1154−1155 [10 Cal.Rptr.2d 217]; People v. Banks (1976) 67 App.3d 379, 383–384 [137 Cal.Rptr. 652].
- Public Peace Officer Defined.See Code, § 830 et seq.§ 831(a) [custodial officer], 831.4 [sheriff’s or police security officer], 831.5 [custodial officer], 831.6 [transportation officer], 3089 [county parole officer]; In re Frederick B. (1987) 192 Cal.App.3d 79, 89–90 [237 Cal.Rptr. 338], disapproved on other grounds in In re Randy G. (2001) 26 Cal.4th 556, 567 fn. 2 [110 Cal.Rptr.2d 516, 28 P.3d 239] [“public officers” is broader category than “peace officers”]; see also Pen. Code, § 836.5(a) [authority to arrest without warrant].
- Felony Must Pose Threat of Death or Great Bodily Injury.Kortum v. Alkire (1977) 69 Cal.App.3d 325, 332-333 [138 Cal.Rptr. 26].Serious Bodily Injury Defined.Pen. Code, § 243(f)(4); People v. Taylor (2004) 118 Cal.App.4th 11, 25, fn. 4 [12 Cal.Rptr.3d 693].
RELATED ISSUES
Killing Committed in Obedience to Judgment
A homicide is also justifiable when committed by a public officer “in obedience to any judgment of a competent court.” (Pen. Code, § 196, subd. 1.) There are no reported cases construing this subdivision. This provision appears to apply exclusively to lawful executions.
SECONDARY SOURCES
1 Witkin & Epstein, California Criminal Law (4th ed. 2012) Defenses, §§ 92, 95, 275.
