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EVIDENCE HANDBOOK

NCJ Number
7027
Author(s)
R L DONIGAN; E C FISHER
Date Published
1965
Length
286 pages
Annotation
HISTORY OF EVIDENTIARY RULES AND THE PRINCIPLES OF ADMISSIBILITY IN A FORMAT ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR COLLEGE LEVEL POLICE STUDY.
Abstract
A PRACTICAL ACQUAINTANCE WITH EVIDENTIARY PRINCIPLES IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF ANY EFFICIENT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER'S STORE OF KNOWLEDGE. HE SHOULD BE FOREARMED WITH THE ABILITY TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN FACTUAL MATERIAL WHICH WILL BE ADMISSIBLE IN COURT IN SUPPORT OF HIS CASES AND THAT WHICH IS WORTHLESS FOR THAT PURPOSE. AMONG THE TOPICS TREATED IN DETAIL ARE CONFESSIONS, CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE AND EVIDENTIARY PRIVILEGES, INCLUDING THE PRIVILEGE AGAINST SELF-INCRIMINATION. THE BACKGROUND AND PHILOSOPHY UNDERLYING THE VARIOUS PRINCIPLES IS RELATED AND PRACTICAL TESTS FOR PRELIMINARY DETERMINATIONS OF ADMISSIBILITY ARE PROVIDED. CASE CITATIONS ILLUSTRATE POINTS DEVELOPED IN THE TEXT AND A SUPPLEMENT ISSUED PERIODICALLY SERVES TO KEEP THE MATERIAL CURRENT. THE AUTHORS PRESENT THE RULES AND PRINCIPLES CLEARLY AND SUCCINCTLY AND THIS TEXT, WHILE AUTHORITATIVE IN THE HANDS OF THE LEGALLY TRAINED, IS COUCHED IN LANGUAGE READILY INFORMATIVE TO LAYMEN. AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED