NCJ Number
52662
Date Published
1978
Length
383 pages
Annotation
THIS TEXTBOOK FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT STUDENTS ANALYZES TRIAL PROCEDURE AND RULES OF EVIDENCE, EMPHASIZING EVIDENCE ADMISSIBILITY; SEARCH AND SEIZURE, EVIDENCE TYPES, AND EFFECTIVE TESTIMONY ARE TOPICS CONSIDERED.
Abstract
THE INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER DETAILS TRIAL PROCEDURES AND DISCUSSES THE FUNCTIONS OF THE JURY AND THE JUDGE. EVIDENCE, WHICH MAY INCLUDE WITNESSES TESTIMONY, PHYSICAL OBJECTS, DOCUMENTS, AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE COURT, IS LIMITED BY ADMISSIBILITY RULES. EVIDENCE CAN BE COMPETENT, RELEVANT, MATERIAL, CORRABORATIVE, PRIMA FACIE, OR CUMULATIVE. WITNESS COMPETENCY, PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN WITNESSES, WITNESS CREDIBILITY, AND IMPEACHMENT OF WITNESSES ARE CONSIDERED. HEARSAY IS DEFINED AS A STATEMENT MADE BY A PERSON OTHER THAN THE WITNESS TESTIFYING; IT IS USUALLY NONADMISSIBLE, BUT NOTABLE EXCEPTIONS, INCLUDING CONFESSIONS, ARE DEALT WITH IN THE TEXT. THE DEFINITION AND IMPLICATIONS OF THE EXCLUSIONARY RULE ARE DISCUSSED, WITH EMPHASIS ON POLICE OFFICERS' SEARCH AND SEIZURE OPERATIONS AND COURT DECISIONS. CIRCUMSTANTIAL AND DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE ARE DETAILED WITH REGARD TO DEFINITIONS, TRIAL USE, AND PERMISSIBILITY. CHAPTERS DEAL WITH THE COLLECTION, PRESERVATION, SOURCES, AND MARKING PROCEDURES FOR PHYSICAL AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE. THE FINAL SECTION CONTAINS INSTRUCTIONS ON PROPER CONDUCT, DRESS, SPEECH, AND ATTITUDE FOR POLICE OFFICERS WHO WILL TESTIFY IN COURT. THE TEXT INCLUDES CHAPTER SUMMARIES AND REVIEW QUESTIONS, NOTES ON LOCAL EVIDENCE RULES, CASE REFERENCES, AND AN INDEX. (DAG)