NCJ Number
178721
Date Published
1996
Length
362 pages
Annotation
This manual explains the criminal law of evidence in relation to the daily law enforcement responsibilities of police officers, private security personnel, and other criminal justice practitioners; it aims to provide practitioners and students with an overview of the criminal law of evidence and basic principles and rules of evidence
Abstract
The introduction notes that police officers' criminal accusations at trial must always be supported by evidence that is legally obtained, legally sufficient, logically and legally relevant, and competent. Therefore, investigators need to understand the rules, cases, laws, and constitutional provisions that govern the location, identification, protection, collection, and preservation of evidence. Each section summaries the principles and rules involved and presents cases on the topic. Individual sections focus on the law of evidence, the adversary system of jurisprudence in the United States, the forms of evidence, access and preservation of evidence, exploring testimonial and documentary evidence from witnesses, and eyewitness identification evidence. Further sections explain proof in criminal cases, alternatives to formal proof, and privileges. Table of cases, index, and appended Federal Rules of Evidence