Conn. Crim. Jury Instr. 8.5-1

The defendant is charged [in count__] with falsely reporting an incident in the first degree. The

statute defining this offense reads in pertinent part as follows:

a person is guilty of falsely reporting an incident in the first degree when, knowing

the information reported, conveyed or circulated to be false or baseless, such person

initiates or circulates a false report or warning of an alleged occurrence or impending

occurrence of a fire, explosion, catastrophe or emergency under circumstances in

which it is likely that public alarm or inconvenience will result.

For you to find the defendant guilty of this charge, the state must prove the following elements

beyond a reasonable doubt:

Element 1 - Reported a fire, explosion, catastrophe or emergency

The first element is that the defendant initiated or circulated a report or warning about an alleged

occurrence or impending occurrence of a fire, explosion, catastrophe or emergency. <Insert

specific allegations.>

Element 2 - False or baseless

The second element is that the information reported or contained in such report or warning was

false or baseless. “False” means not true. “Baseless” means groundless, without any foundation

in fact.

Element 3 - Knowledge

The third element is that the defendant knew that such information was false or baseless. A

person acts “knowingly” with respect to conduct or circumstances when (he/she) is aware that

(his/her) conduct is of such nature or that such circumstances exist. <See Knowledge, Instruction

2.3-3.>

Element 4 - Public harm or inconvenience

The fourth element is that the defendant initiated or circulated such false report or warning under

circumstances in which it was likely that public alarm or inconvenience would result.

“Public” refers to a whole body of people or an entire community, or the inhabitants of a

particular place, or a neighborhood, or the people at large. “Inconvenience” means serious

hardship or injustice to individuals.

Conclusion

In summary, the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that 1) the defendant initiated or

circulated a report or warning about an alleged occurrence or impending occurrence of a fire,

explosion, catastrophe or emergency, 2) the report or warning was false or baseless, 3) the

defendant knew that the report was false or baseless, and 4) (he/she) acted under circumstances

in which it was likely that public alarm or inconvenience would result.

If you unanimously find that the state has proved beyond a reasonable doubt each of the elements

of falsely reporting an incident in the first degree, then you shall find the defendant guilty. On

the other hand, if you unanimously find that the state has failed to prove beyond a reasonable

doubt any of the elements, you shall then find the defendant not guilty.