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Simple English definitions for legal terms
poisonous-tree doctrine
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A quick definition of poisonous-tree doctrine:
The poisonous-tree doctrine is a rule in criminal law that says evidence obtained from an illegal search, arrest, or interrogation cannot be used in court. This is because the evidence is considered tainted by the illegality, like a fruit from a poisonous tree. For example, if the police found a murder weapon using a map seized during an illegal search, the weapon would not be admissible in court. This rule is also called the fruits doctrine and is meant to protect people's rights from unlawful actions by law enforcement.
A more thorough explanation:
The poisonous-tree doctrine is a rule in criminal procedure that states evidence obtained from an illegal search, arrest, or interrogation is inadmissible in court. This is because the evidence is considered tainted by the illegality, like a fruit from a poisonous tree.
For example, if the police illegally search a suspect's home and find a murder weapon, the weapon cannot be used as evidence in court. Even if the police later obtain a warrant to search the home, the evidence is still inadmissible because it was obtained from an illegal search.
This doctrine is important because it protects the rights of individuals and ensures that law enforcement follows proper procedures when gathering evidence. It also helps to prevent police misconduct and abuse of power.
Other related doctrines include the exclusionary rule, attenuation doctrine, independent-source rule, and inevitable-discovery rule.