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Simple English definitions for legal terms
serendipity doctrine
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A quick definition of serendipity doctrine:
The serendipity doctrine is a rule in criminal law that says if the police find evidence while they are doing a legal search, they can use that evidence in court. This means that if the police are looking for one thing, but they find something else that is illegal, they can still use it as evidence.
A more thorough explanation:
The Serendipity Doctrine is a principle in criminal procedure that states that any evidence discovered during a lawful search can be admitted into evidence at trial.
For example, if the police are conducting a search of a suspect's home for drugs and they happen to come across evidence of another crime, such as stolen property, that evidence can also be used in court.
This doctrine is based on the idea that if the police are lawfully searching for one thing, they may come across evidence of another crime by chance, or serendipity. As long as the search was conducted legally, any evidence found can be used in court.