What is Inadmissible Evidence?
In the legal system, inadmissible evidence is any form of evidence that is prohibited from being used in court. Such evidence can be rejected for various reasons, including its illegal acquisition or failure to meet the requirements of the rules of evidence.
Criminology recognizes multiple categories of inadmissible evidence, including hearsay evidence, opinion evidence, character evidence, and illegally obtained evidence.
Hearsay evidence refers to a statement made outside of court that is presented to prove its truth, while opinion evidence involves a witness giving an opinion rather than stating factual information.
Character evidence is used to demonstrate the character of a person rather than the facts of the case, and illegally obtained evidence refers to any evidence obtained through unlawful means.
The exclusion of inadmissible evidence is essential for maintaining a fair and impartial legal process. Allowing inadmissible evidence could potentially bias the outcome of a case, resulting in an unjust resolution.
As such, the court is responsible for ensuring that only admissible evidence is used in a trial, preventing the use of any information that is legally invalid.
