What is the exclusionary rule in criminal procedure?
The exclusionary rule in criminal procedure is a legal rule that prevents evidence that was obtained through unconstitutional means from being used in a criminal case. This rule can be traced back to the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees freedom from unreasonable search and seizure. In Pennsylvania, the exclusionary rule applies not just to constitutional violations committed by the police, but also to those committed by state officials who don’t have authority over criminal investigations. The goal of the exclusionary rule is to deter law enforcement from engaging in unconstitutional conduct when investigating and prosecuting cases. When evidence is excluded from a criminal case, it can weaken the prosecution’s case and lead to dismissal of charges or a reduced sentence for the defendant. This makes it important for law enforcement to obtain evidence within the bounds of the law. The exclusionary rule applies in both federal and state criminal cases in Pennsylvania. In some cases, a judge may allow evidence that was obtained in an unconstitutional manner if it can still be used to prove a defendant’s guilt. This is known as the “good faith exception” and applies when the court finds that although the evidence was acquired unlawfully, the police acted in good faith and had a reasonable belief that their actions were lawful at the time.
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