What are the rules on evidence-gathering in criminal cases?

In criminal cases, evidence-gathering is an important step for determining the facts of a case. In Virginia, the rules for evidence-gathering can be found in the Virginia Code and the Virginia Rules of Evidence. According to the Virginia Code, all criminal evidence must be gathered during a lawful search and seizure. This means that law enforcement officers must follow the proper procedures to conduct a search and seize evidence. This includes getting a search warrant issued by a judge, or in some situations, getting the consent of the owner of the property being searched. The Virginia Rules of Evidence lay out the rules for admitting evidence in criminal cases. This includes rules about authenticity and relevance. For example, any evidence presented at trial must be authenticated, meaning that it must be shown that the evidence is what it purports to be, and not something else. Evidence must also be relevant to proving the facts of the case at hand. In addition, Virginia law allows for experts to testify in criminal cases. This means that if a situation involves complex issues, such as scientific or technical evidence, a person with specialized knowledge in that area can be called to provide testimony. Overall, in criminal cases, evidence-gathering is an important step for determining the facts. Virginia law outlines specific rules for how evidence should be gathered and what evidence is allowed in court.

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