Evaluating Evidence Reliability: The Totality of Circumstances Approach

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Many cases have different circumstances, which makes it difficult to use one test to indicate if evidence is reliable. In the case of Illinois versus Gates, many of the Justices agreed to adopt the totality of circumstances standard for several reasons. Due to the simple fact that it is important to make sure evidence is being obtained from a trustworthy person, in this case specifically. They agreed that the “totality of circumstances” should be used since it is a more fluid concept instead of the “two-pronged test” which is strict. Having a fluid test, makes it easier to allow it to assist with many different scenarios. The anonymous letter is not an everyday piece of evidence that there are applicable tests that can be to use to make sure the anonymous letter is acceptable to use. …show more content…

The totality of circumstances standard, will balance the results to see if the letter is applicable to use as reliable evidence since it is more consistent with our treatment of probable cause. You have to have credible evidence in other to consider probable cause to search someone’s home or property. This is why the totality of circumstances was adopted because it is easy to get distracted and do actions that will cause the evidence to be denied. Both tests are focused on the “veracity” or “reliability” and the “basis of knowledge”, but the two-pronged test is inflexible in comparison to the totality of circumstances. The two-pronged test doesn’t allow untraditional access of evidence to be equally examined. It is a black and white test that doesn’t create any room for gray areas, which makes it difficult to use for untraditional situations. Lastly, the Justices noticed how the warrant was still unjustified even after adopting the totality of circumstances test. This showed how the anonymous letter was still a questionable piece of evidence and if the search was still warranted.

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