| The introduction of evidence is a central component | | | | falsified records are common instances of falsified |
| of criminal trials. The prosecution and defense alike | | | | evidence in the courtroom. Attorneys for both sides |
| must present evidence in order to support their | | | | often request to examine documents before trial so |
| claims. Judges and juries must be convinced by | | | | they can verify the authenticity of the paperwork. |
| evidence presented in the courtroom, and for the | | | | Another issue that sometimes arises during criminal |
| criminal court system to work correctly, all evidence | | | | trials is the suppression of evidence. If items or |
| should be pure, real, and untainted. | | | | information are withheld from the jury or adjudicator, |
| There have been many instances where accused | | | | it is impossible to make a fully informed decision. |
| individuals have been freed due to tainted evidence in | | | | Defendants, accusers, and even police officers have |
| the courtroom. Tainted evidence often gives judges | | | | been accused of suppressing vital evidence to a case. |
| and juries "reasonable doubt" about the case, and | | | | If evidence suppression is uncovered, the case may |
| may be enough to convince them to throw out a | | | | result in a mistrial or may be dropped altogether. |
| conviction. Evidence may be tainted through improper | | | | False testimonies and witness harassment are also |
| handling, failure to properly seal a crime scene, and | | | | evidence-related issues that may occur during criminal |
| intentional tampering. Fingerprints, blood-samples, and | | | | proceedings. Witnesses who give false testimony |
| bodily-fluid samples are all common pieces of | | | | unfairly influence the case and may cause a wrongful |
| evidence that are highly susceptible to tainting. | | | | conviction or acquittal. Individuals who give false |
| There have also been many cases in which individuals | | | | testimony or lie on the witness stand may be |
| have been wrongly convicted on the basis of forged | | | | prosecuted for perjury and face stiff fines or jail |
| or falsified evidence. Trials involving property or | | | | time. Witness harassment occurs when a witness is |
| assets often require the presentation of legal | | | | made to feel threatened if they give a true and |
| documents to prove a case. Forged documents or | | | | accurate account during trial. |