NCJ Number
159822
Date Published
1996
Length
681 pages
Annotation
This book covers rules of evidence that affect court procedures and that concern the admissibility of evidence at trial; it is intended for use by individuals involved in the administration of criminal justice and by students.
Abstract
The study of criminal evidence necessarily involves legal principles of criminal and constitutional law. For example, requirements for proving elements of murder are related to evidence, and search and seizure provisions of the Constitution limit the use of evidence in criminal cases. The first part of the book states, defines, and discusses rules of evidence, with emphasis on those rules of greatest importance to criminal justice personnel. Chapters specifically focus on the history and development of rules of evidence, burden of proof, judicial notice, presumptions, inferences, stipulations, evidence admissibility tests (relevancy and materiality), competency of evidence and witnesses, witness examination, privileges, opinions and expert testimony, the hearsay rule and exceptions, documentary evidence, real evidence, and unconstitutionally obtained evidence. The second part of the book contains leading decisions rendered by Federal and State courts to give the reader an understanding of court reasoning in framing and explaining rules of evidence. A table of cases and an index are included. Footnotes