Evidence Proving Someone Guilty

Evidence is a crucial component in a court case. Without evidence you can’t prove someone guilty or not guilty for a crime. “Evidence is any kind of proof offered to established the existence or nonexistence of a fact in dispute-for example, testimony, writings, other material objects, or demonstrations” (Neubauer, Fradella, 2014, pg. 345). There are different types of evidence, but they are either in one of the two categories. The first one is direct evidence which is first-hand evidence that does not require any inferences to be drawn in order to establish a proposition of fact (Neubauer, Fradella, 2014, pg.345). The other category of evidence is circumstantial evidence, this evidence that is indirect. Which is providing material facts of

Real evidence also known as physical evidence, consists of documents, drug paraphernalia, clothing, and weapons (Neubauer, Fradella, 2014, pg.345). Real evidence is the key component in most cases because it could be what the defendant was using to commit the crime. Scientific evidence is “the formal results of forensic investigatory and scientific techniques” (Neubauer, Fradella, 2014, pg.345). Scientific evidence is what investigates the real evidence to see if it matches up with the crime, or what the defendant used. Lastly there is demonstrative evidence, which doesn’t have any evidential value to it, but it is used in the court room to give the judge, jury, and others a visual perspective to what might have happened. This type of evidence is displayed with charts, maps, videos, and reenacting a scene of the crime (Neubauer, Fradella, 2014, pg.345). There is also the rules of evidence which is “rules that govern whether, how, and for what purposes certain forms of proof may be placed before the trier-of-fact for consideration at a hearing or trial (Neubauer, Fradella, 2014,

When they are under oath they are sworn in to only tell the truth or they will be in contempt of court. Testimonial evidence can help a case tremendously if the person is telling the truth, and also help the defendant if he/she didn’t commit the crime and it is their benefit. But also it could help the victim if there isn’t any other evidence brought to the stand. It can work both ways, it just depends on the lawyers’ effort in the case. A testimony can be given by anyone that is involved with the case. “I will suggest that the role of testimony in the context of human rights goes far beyond a visual technological device to grab people’s attention” (Patel, 2012, pg. 236). What Patel is saying that a good testimony can grab the people’s attention and make them believe what they are hearing, it’s almost the same as “seeing is believing” but with a different sense. “In a broader sociological sense, testimony is seen to provide an “on the ground” perspective, and in this regard has become a key heuristic among researchers in their attempt to understand the experience of conflict” (Patel, 2012, pg. 236). Patel describes how testimonial evidence, if given correctly, could paint a picture of what happened to the