| Evidence |
|---|
| Part of thelaw series |
| Types of evidence |
| Relevance |
| Authentication |
| Witnesses |
| Hearsay and exceptions |
| Othercommon law areas |
Exculpatory evidence isevidence favorable to thedefendant in acriminal trial that exonerates or tends to exonerate the defendant ofguilt.[1] It is the opposite ofinculpatory evidence, which tends to present guilt.
In many countries, including theUnited States,police andprosecutors are required to disclose to the defendant exculpatory evidence they possess before thedefendant enters a plea (guilty or not guilty).[2] In some countries such as Germany, the prosecutor has to actively search for both exculpatory and inculpatory circumstances and evidence before filing of action.[3]
Per theBrady v. Maryland decision, prosecutors in the United States have a duty to disclose exculpatory evidence even if not requested to do so. While the prosecution is not required to search for exculpatory evidence and must disclose only the evidence in its possession, custody, or control, the prosecution's duty is to disclose all information known to any member of its team, e.g., police, investigators, crime labs, et cetera. InBrady v. Maryland, theU.S. Supreme Court held that such a requirement follows from constitutionaldue process and is consistent with the prosecutor's duty to seek justice.[4] TheBrady doctrine is apretrial discovery rule that was established by the United States Supreme Court inBrady v. Maryland (1963).[5] The rule requires that the prosecution must turn over all exculpatory evidence to thedefendant in acriminal case. Exculpatoryevidence is evidence that might exonerate the defendant.[6]
A victim ismurdered by stabbing and asuspect is arrested for the murder. Evidence includes a knife covered with blood found near the victim and the accused found covered in blood at the murder scene. During the investigation, the police interview a witness claiming to have seen the stabbing. The witness makes a statement to the police that another unidentified person committed the crime, not the accused. The witness's statement is exculpatory evidence as it introduces reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the accused. The police either do not believe the witness's account or else find the witness unreliable and choose not to follow up on the lead. The prosecutor is obliged to inform the accused and their attorney of the witness's statement even though the police doubt the witness's version of events. Failure to do so would provide grounds for a motion to dismiss the charges or an appeal of a subsequent guilty verdict.
exculpatory evidence Evidence tending to establish a criminal defendant's innocence ● The prosecution has a duty to disclose exculpatory evidence in its possession or control when the evidence may be material to the outcome of the case.
