Criminal evidence principles and cases

Synopsis

I: INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL EVIDENCE. 1. History and Development of the Law of Criminal Evidence. 2. Important Aspects of the American Criminal Justice System. 3. Using Evidence to Determine Guilt or Innocence. 4. Direct and Circumstantial Evidence and the Use of Inferences. II: WITNESSES AND THEIR TESTIMONY. 5. Witnesses and the Testimony of Witnesses. 6. Judicial Notice and Privileges of Witnesses. 7. The Use of Hearsay in the Courtroom. 8. Exceptions to the Hearsay Rule. III: WHEN EVIDENCE CANNOT BE USED BECAUSE OF POLICE MISTAKES OR MISCONDUCT. 9. The Exclusionary Rule. 10. When Improperly Obtained Evidence Can Be Used. 11. 'Evidence is Admissible if Obtained During an Administrative Function under the "Special Needs" of Government. 12. Obtaining Statements and Confessions for Use as Evidence. 13. The Law Governing Identification Evidence. 14. Obtaining Physical and Other Evidence. 15. Obtaining Evidence by Use of Search Warrants, Wiretapping, or Dogs Trained to Indicate an Alert. IV: CRIME SCENE, DOCUMENTARY, AND SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE. 16. The Crime Scene, the Chain of Custody Requirement, and the use of Fingerprints and Trace Evidence. 17. Videotapes, Photographs, Documents, and Writings as Evidence. 18. Scientific Evidence. Appendix A: Sections of the U.S. Constitution. Appendix B: Federal Rules of Evidence. Glossary. Table of Cases. Index.