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Criminal procedure

admissible evidence

For evidence to be admissible in a criminal prosecution it generally must have been obtained legally—with a search warrant, or based on an exception to the search warrant requirement, such as consent to search—and be relevant and reliable.

In Tennessee, as in other states, evidence must be obtained legally to be admissible in a criminal prosecution. This means that law enforcement officers typically need to have a valid search warrant before conducting a search and seizing evidence. However, there are exceptions to this requirement, such as when an individual gives consent to a search, when evidence is in plain view, during exigent circumstances where there is no time to secure a warrant, or when the search is incident to a lawful arrest. Additionally, the evidence must be relevant to the case, meaning it must have some bearing on the crime being prosecuted, and it must be reliable, indicating that it is trustworthy and has integrity. Evidence obtained through illegal means, such as without a warrant when one is required or without a valid exception, may be excluded from trial under the exclusionary rule, which is a legal principle designed to deter police misconduct and preserve the integrity of the judicial process.

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Criminal procedure

admissible evidence

Individual & Family Legal Plan

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Tennessee State Code

Tennessee State Code

Criminal procedure

admissible evidence

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