WI · jury_instructions
Wis JI-Criminal 1316
Giving a False Alarm
Statutory Definition of the Crime
Giving a false alarm, as defined in § 941.13 of the Criminal Code of Wisconsin, is
committed by one who intentionally gives a false alarm to any public officer or employee,
whether by means of a fire alarm system or otherwise.
State's Burden of Proof
Before you may find the defendant guilty of this offense, the State must prove by
evidence which satisfies you beyond a reasonable doubt that the following three elements
were present.
Elements of the Crime That the State Must Prove
1. The defendant gave an alarm to a public (officer) (employee) by means of fire alarm
system or otherwise. 1
2. The alarm was false.
3. The defendant intentionally gave the false alarm.
"Intentionally" requires that the defendant acted with the mental purpose 2 to
give a false alarm to a public (officer) (employee). It further requires that the
defendant knew that the person was a public (officer) (employee) and knew the
alarm was a false alarm.
Deciding About Intent and Knowledge
You cannot look into a person's mind to find intent and knowledge. Intent and
knowledge must be found, if found at all, from the defendant's acts, words, and statements, if
any, and from all the facts and circumstances in this case bearing upon intent and knowledge.
Jury's Decision
If you are satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that all three elements of this offense have
been proved, you should find the defendant guilty.
If you are not so satisfied, you must find the defendant not guilty.
History
Wis JI-Criminal 1316 (2007). Release No. 45, 5/2007. © 2007, Regents, Univ. of Wis. Prepared by the Wisconsin Criminal Jury Instructions Committee of the Wisconsin Judicial Conference with the University of Wisconsin Law School; posted by the Wisconsin State Law Library with the University's permission.
Provenance
- Source
- wilawlibrary.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-24
- Edition
- 2026-09-24
- Content hash
147ed5bf6a49d5f1414e251b79ad54f454458c5edade4a582ae301c9bc3cc55d
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