Suppression of evidence is a legal concept that involves the exclusion of certain evidence from being presented or used in a trial or legal proceeding. It is a significant issue in criminal law and constitutional law of the United States, particularly when violations of a person's rights occur during the investigation or gathering of evidence by law enforcement.
The principle of suppressing evidence is based on the idea that the criminal justice system must respect individuals' constitutional rights, and evidence obtained in violation of those rights should not be used against them. The exclusionary rule, which is derived from the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution, is a key legal doctrine that governs the suppression of evidence. Under the exclusionary rule, evidence may be suppressed in the following circumstances:
- Unlawful search and seizure: If law enforcement conducts a search or seizure without a valid search warrant or without a recognised exception to the warrant requirement, any evidence obtained during that search may be subject to suppression.
- Miranda rights violations: The Miranda warning is a set of constitutional rights that police must inform a suspect of before custodial interrogation. If law enforcement fails to provide the Miranda warning or violates the suspect's right to remain silent or have an attorney present during questioning, any statements made by the suspect may be suppressed.
- Violations of due process: If law enforcement or government officials engage in conduct that shocks the conscience or violates fundamental fairness, the court may suppress evidence obtained through such actions.
- Chain of custody issues: If evidence is mishandled or not properly documented during its collection, storage, and transportation, it may be subject to suppression due to chain of custody issues.
The purpose of suppressing evidence is to deter law enforcement from engaging in unconstitutional or illegal practices during their investigations and to protect individuals' constitutional rights. By excluding unlawfully obtained evidence, the courts seek to maintain the integrity of the criminal justice system and ensure fair trials.
However, it is important to note that the exclusionary rule is not absolute. There are exceptions to the rule, such as the good-faith exception and the inevitable discovery doctrine, which may allow the admission of otherwise suppressed evidence under specific circumstances.
