US-CA3 · jury_instructions
3d Cir. Model Jury Instr. (Criminal) 5.04
Motive Explained
Motive is not an element of the offense with which (name) is charged. Proof of
bad motive is not required to convict. Further, proof of bad motive alone does not
establish that (name) is guilty and proof of good motive alone does not establish that
(name) is not guilty. Evidence of (name’s) motive may, however, help you find
(name’s) intent.
Intent and motive are different concepts. Motive is what prompts a person to
act. Intent refers only to the state of mind with which the particular act is done.
Personal advancement and financial gain, for example, are motives for much
of human conduct. However, these motives may prompt one person to intentionally
do something perfectly acceptable while prompting another person to intentionally
do an act that is a crime.
Provenance
- Source
- ca3.uscourts.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-08-19
- Edition
- 2026-08-19
- Content hash
4291d67c58b2a7a17971ccc1e5590fbcd26d38d94e8d87564e6cba3bcd2e92f0
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