NCJ Number
84160
Date Published
1982
Length
296 pages
Annotation
This book provides for the law enforcement officer the rules of evidence which govern the enforcement of criminal law and its important stages of investigation and trial.
Abstract
Because much of the material gathered by police as evidence cannot be used legally in court, every law enforcement officer must have a basic knowledge of the law of criminal evidence. Evidence is any matter offered in court to prove the truth or falsity of a fact in issue. The two general classes of evidence are direct and circumstantial. There are two sources of the law of evidence -common law, as expressed in court decisions, and statutory law. The State must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in all cases. Major topics addressed include admissibility of evidence; detention and arrest; search and seizure; arrest and search warrants; interrogations, confessions, and nontestimonial evidence; discovery; and privileged communications. Also discussed are questions, answers, impeachment, and cross-examination of witnesses; opinion evidence; hearsay evidence; documentary evidence, photographs, demonstrations, and the best evidence rule; the preservation of physical and scientific evidence; and the special problems of proof. Photographs, an appendix, an index, and a glossary are provided.