What are the rules of evidence in criminal cases?

In criminal cases in Florida, the rules of evidence are used to determine which evidence is admissible in court. These rules ensure that the evidence presented is reliable and not unfairly prejudicial. The four main rules of evidence are relevancy, authenticity, competency, and best evidence. Relevancy means that evidence must be related to the case at hand. Anything that is not relevant to the case is not admissible. Authentication requires that any documents or other tangible evidence must be verified as genuine before it can be admitted in court. Competency means that the witness must be mentally and physically fit to give relevant testimony. Any testimony that is determined to be untrue or unreliable is not admissible. Best evidence rule requires that the best form or highest quality of evidence be presented. For example, if a photo is available, it is preferred to a witness’s memory of the same event. As a result, these rules of evidence protect the accused from unreliable information and help ensure that only the best and most truthful evidence is used in the court proceedings.

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What are the rules of evidence in criminal cases?

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