Table Of ContentCriminal
EVIDENCE
       
tenth edition
Ingram
Jefferson L. 
University of Dayton
John C. Klotter Justice Administration Legal Series
Criminal Evidence, Ninth Edition
Copyright © 1971, 1975 W.H. Anderson Company
1980, 1987, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2009 
Matthew Bender & Company, Inc., a member of the LexisNexis Group
Phone 877-374-2919
Web Site www.lexisnexis.com/anderson/criminaljustice
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical 
means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher.
LexisNexis and the Knowledge Burst logo are trademarks of Reed Elsevier Properties, Inc.
Anderson Publishing is a registered trademark of Anderson Publishing, a member of the LexisNexis Group
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ingram, Jefferson..
Criminal evidence / Jefferson L. Ingram. – 10th ed.
p. cm.
  Includes index.
  ISBN 978-1-4224-6141-9 (softbound)
1. Evidence, Criminal–United States. I. Title.
KF9660.K57 2009
345.73’06–dc22
2009038517
Cover design by Tin Box Studio, Inc.    EDITOR  Elisabeth Roszmann Ebben
  ACQUISITIONS EDITOR  Michael C. Braswell
Preface
In revising Criminal Evidence, Tenth Edition, the author continued to honor 
John Klotter’s extensive work on criminal evidence and to continue the excellent 
approach he followed by updating evidentiary themes, trends, and cases, while 
remaining true to the original organization and presentation. The book remains 
primarily a textbook with illustrated cases for those involved in the study of 
criminal evidence and in the administration of justice. It should prove especially 
valuable to those who are preparing for careers in criminal justice or related 
areas of study. For those reasons, the emphasis continues to be placed on the 
rules and principles of evidence that primarily affect criminal cases.
This book has been prepared as a textbook for individuals teaching or 
learning about the evidentiary framework in the administration of criminal 
justice. The materials presented cover general evidence law in use by the 
states and the federal justice system. The text makes frequent reference to 
the Federal Rules of Evidence as a benchmark of how the law of evidence 
applies in particular situations. Although differences exist in the way a rule 
of  evidence  is  administered  in  the  various  American  jurisdictions,  there 
is signifi cant uniformity because many states have adopted versions of the 
Federal Rules of Evidence or the Uniform Rules of Evidence. As state courts 
follow their particular adaptations of the Federal Rules of Evidence, they place 
signifi cant emphasis and reliance on the way the federal courts interpret the 
Rules while occasionally recognizing an interpretation of a rule that refl ects a 
state’s individual needs.
For the reader or instructor, the book retains its familiar organization with 
related ancillary materials, including the glossary, a current version of the 
Federal Rules of Evidence, and the table of contents of the Uniform Rules of 
Evidence. As a method of organization, the text portion of this book roughly 
follows the current organizational order of the Federal Rules of Evidence 
and includes portions of particular rules in box format within the chapters. 
In Part II, where cases demonstrate some of the evidentiary principles, the 
author has added several newer legal cases that explain the evolving principles 
of evidence in a contemporary case context. While several landmark cases 
are presented in Part II, this version of the book retained some older cases in 
which the judicial writers offered particularly excellent explanations of legal 
principles. After Part II, the glossary permits the reader to fi nd defi nitions and 
learn many principles that may be unique to the study of the law of evidence. 
Although the text portion of this book does not deal with every section of the 
Federal Rules of Evidence, Appendix I contains a copy of the Federal Rules of 
iii
iv CRIMINAL EVIDENCE   
Evidence that incorporates all of the new rule changes that became effective 
in December 1, 2008.
Constitutional reinterpretations by the Supreme Court of the United States 
often change the admissibility of evidence. Forty-three years ago, the Miranda 
revolution altered the way in which criminal justice professionals could obtain 
and use some types of evidence. A few terms ago, the Supreme Court of the 
United States reinterpreted the Sixth Amendment right of confrontation in a 
way that affected the admissibility of hearsay evidence by requiring more in 
court testimony. Just this year, the Supreme Court revised the admissibility 
of evidence seized from automobile searches in particular arrest contexts. 
Recognizing that the law of evidence evolves, the author made every effort to 
recognize changes in evidence law and to incorporate the new material into the 
text discussion of the principles.
The study of criminal evidence involves some understanding of collateral 
legal subjects like constitutional law and criminal law. In this book, evidentiary 
principles are embedded in criminal cases and in textual references involving 
murder, robbery, assault, battery, and other crimes. Using a criminal prosecution 
context, this book presents the traditional rules of evidence that most often 
affect criminal cases that lawyers, police, and criminal justice professionals 
will encounter.
To assist instructors, an Instructor’s Guide and a PowerPoint presentation 
covering the text section of this book are available.
Jefferson Ingram, University of Dayton, August, 2009.
Table of Contents
Preface  iii
PART I  1
History and Approach to Study  3
Chapter 1
History and Development of Rules of Evidence  5
Section
  1.1  Introduction  7
  1.2  Early Attempts to Determine Guilt or Innocence    7
  1.3  Modern Legal Systems—Romanesque System    11
  1.4  —Anglican System    12
  1.5  Development of the Rules of Evidence in the United States    14
  1.6  Application of the Rules of Evidence in State and Federal Courts    16
  1.7  Future Development of the Rules of Evidence    18
  1.8  Summary    20
Chapter 2
Approach to the Study of Criminal Evidence  21
Section
  2.1  Introduction    23
  2.2  Defi nitions    24
  2.3  Reasons for the Rules of Evidence    28
  2.4  Reasons for Excluding Evidence    29
  2.5  Rules of Evidence in Criminal Cases Compared to 
    Rules of Evidence in Civil Cases    31
  2.6  Pretrial Flow of Evidence    33
  2.7  Use of Evidence at the Trial    35
  2.8  Consideration of Evidence on Appeal    36
  2.9  Use of Evidence at the Probation Hearing    37
  2.10  Use of Evidence When Considering Parole    37
  2.11  Summary    38
v
vi CRIMINAL EVIDENCE   
Proof by Evidence and Substitutes  41
Chapter 3
Burden of Proof  43
Section
  3.1  Introduction    45
  3.2  Defi nitions and Distinctions    46
  3.3  Preponderance of the Evidence    49
  3.4  Clear and Convincing Evidence    50
  3.5  Beyond a Reasonable Doubt    52
  3.6  Burden on the Prosecution    56
  3.7  Burden to Prove All Elements of the Crime    58
  3.8  Burden on the Accused    60
  3.9  Burden of Proving Affi rmative Defenses—General    63
  3.10  —Alibi    64
  3.11  —Insanity    66
  3.12  —Self-Defense    69
  3.13  Suffi ciency of Evidence    72
  3.14  Summary    73
Chapter 4
Proof via Evidence  75
Section
  4.1  Introduction    77
  4.2  Pretrial Motions Pertaining to Evidence    78
  4.3  General Approach to Admissibility    79
  4.4  Order of Presenting Evidence at the Trial    81
  4.5  Procedure for Offering and Challenging Evidence    83
  4.6  Role of the Trial Judge in Evidence Matters    85
  4.7  Function of the Jury    88
  4.8  Role of Witnesses    89
  4.9  Prosecuting Attorney’s Responsibilities  91
  4.10  Defense Attorney’s Responsibilities    94
  4.11  Admissibility and Weight of Direct and Circumstantial Evidence    97
  4.12  Summary    103
Chapter 5
Judicial Notice  105
Section
  5.1  Introduction    107
  5.2  Judicial Notice Defi ned    108
  5.3  Judicial Notice of Facts    111
  5.4  —Matters of General Knowledge    113
  5.5  —History and Historical Facts    116
TABLE OF CONTENTS vii
  5.6  —Geography and Geographical Facts    117
  5.7  —Facts Relating to Nature and Science    119
  5.8  —Language, Abbreviations, and Symbols    121
  5.9  Judicial Notice of Laws    123
  5.10  —Law of the Forum    124
  5.11  —Federal Law    124
  5.12  —Law of Sister States    125
  5.13  —Law of Foreign Countries    126
  5.14  —Municipal Ordinances    127
  5.15  —Administrative Regulations    128
  5.16  —Jurisdiction of Courts    129
  5.17  Judicial Notice Process    130
  5.18  Judicial Notice in Criminal Cases    132
  5.19  Summary    133
Chapter 6
Presumptions, Inferences, and Stipulations  135
Section
  6.1  Introduction    137
  6.2  Defi nitions and Distinctions  138
  6.3  Reasons for Presumptions and Inferences    144
  6.4  Presumptions of Law    146
  6.5  Presumptions of Fact    147
  6.6  Classes of Presumptions    148
  6.7  Specifi c Presumption Situations    151
  6.8  —Innocence    152
  6.9  —Sanity    156
  6.10  —Suicide    159
  6.11  —Possession of Fruits of Crime    160
  6.12  — That a Person Intends the Ordinary Consequences of 
His or Her Voluntary Acts    163
  6.13  —Knowledge of the Law    167
  6.14  —Flight or Concealment    168
  6.15  —Unexplained Absence as Death    171
  6.16  —Regularity of Offi cial Acts    173
  6.17  Constitutionality Tests for Presumptions and Inferences    175
  6.18  Stipulations    180
  6.19  —Polygraph Tests    183
  6.20  Summary    185
viii CRIMINAL EVIDENCE   
General Admissibility Tests  187
Chapter 7  189
Relevancy and Materiality
Section
  7.1  Introduction    191
  7.2  Relevancy and Materiality Defi ned    192
  7.3  Admissibility of Relevant Evidence    196
  7.4  Reasons for Exclusion of Relevant and Material Evidence    199
  7.5  Relevancy of Particular Matters    206
  7.6  —Identity of Persons    207
  7.7  —Identity of Things    210
  7.8  —Circumstances Preceding the Crime    211
  7.9  —Subsequent Incriminating or Exculpatory Circumstances    213
  7.10  —Defenses    217
  7.11  —Character Evidence    221
  7.12  —Proof of Other Crimes, Wrongs, or Acts    224
  7.13  —Experimental and Scientifi c Evidence    229
  7.14  Summary    231
Chapter 8
Competency of Evidence and Witnesses  233
Section
  8.1  Introduction    235
  8.2  Defi nitions    236
  8.3  General Categories of Incompetent Evidence    236
  8.4  Competency of Evidence—Documentary Evidence    238
  8.5  —Tests and Experiments    238
  8.6  —Conduct of Trained Dogs    240
  8.7  —Telephone Conversations    243
  8.8  Negative Evidence as Competent Evidence    245
  8.9  Evidence Competent for Some Purposes but Not for Others    247
  8.10  Competency of Witnesses    248
  8.11  —Mental Incapacity    251
  8.12  —Children    254
  8.13  —Husband and Wife    258
  8.14  —Conviction of Crime    262
  8.15  —Religious Belief    264
  8.16  Competency of Judge as Witness    265
  8.17  Competency of Juror as Witness    267
  8.18  Summary    271
TABLE OF CONTENTS ix
Evidence via Witness Testimony  273
Chapter 9
Examination of Witnesses  275
Section
  9.1  Introduction    277
  9.2  Essential Qualities of a Witness    278
  9.3  Oath or Affi rmation Requirement    281
  9.4  Judicial Control of Testimony    283
  9.5  Separation of Witnesses    285
  9.6  Direct Examination of Witnesses    288
  9.7  —Leading Questions    289
  9.8  —Refreshing Memory—Present Memory Revived    293
  9.9  —Past Recollection Recorded    297
  9.10  Cross-Examination of Witnesses    300
  9.11  Redirect and Recross-Examination    305
  9.12  Impeachment of Witnesses    306
  9.13  —Own Witness    308
  9.14  —Bias or Prejudice    310
  9.15  —Character and Conduct    312
  9.16  —Conviction of Crime    316
  9.17  —Prior Inconsistent Statements    321
  9.18  —Defects of Recollection or Perception    323
  9.19  —Use of Confession for Impeachment Purposes    324
  9.20  Rehabilitation of Witness    326
  9.21  Summary    328
Chapter 10
Privileges  331
Section
  10.1  Introduction    333
  10.2  Reasons for Privileged Communications    337
  10.3  Communications Between Husband and Wife    338
  10.4  Communications Between Attorney and Client    351
  10.5  Communications Between Physician and Patient    362
  10.6  Communications to Clergy    368
  10.7  Confi dential Informant Privilege    372
  10.8  State Secrets and Other Offi cial Information    376
  10.9  News Media-Informant Privilege    380
  10.10  Summary    386
Description:In addition to covering the basics of collecting, preserving and presenting evidence, this revision presents the latest developments in the law of evidence that are of interest to criminal justice personnel. Highlights include: chapter outlines, lists of key terms and concepts for each chapter, a gl