NJ · jury_instructions
N.J. Model Criminal Jury Charge, N.J.S.A. Non 2C
Credibility - Prior Conviction of Witness
Revised 2/24/03
CREDIBILITY - PRIOR CONVICTION OF A WITNESS
You have heard evidence that [name of witness(es)] has [have] previously been convicted
of [a] crime[s]. This evidence may be only used in determining the credibility or believability of
[these] witness' [witnesses’] testimony.
A jury has a right to consider whether a pe rson who has previously failed to comply with
society's rules as demonstrated through [a] criminal conviction(s) would be more likely to ignore
the oath requiring truthfulness on the witness stand than a person who has never been convicted
of a crime. You may cons ider in determining this issue the nature and degree
1 of the prior
conviction[s] and when it [they] occurred.
You are not, however, obligated to change your opinion as to the credibility of this
[these] witness[es] simply because of [a] prior conviction[s]. You may consider such evidence
along with all the other factors we previously discussed in determining credibility of a witness.
1 State v. Brunson, 132 N.J. 377 (1993)[sanitization of defendant’s conviction].
History
Revised 2/24/03
Provenance
- Source
- njcourts.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-08-20
- Edition
- 2026-08-20
- Content hash
9fd97f434a8a0a74a77dc668a4e910f7eb7dc5a80b3980764da39066cfe1d3c8
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