Exclusionary Rule

The exclusionary rule is a legal principle in the United States that prevents evidence gathered in violation of a person's constitutional rights from being used in court. This means if law enforcement illegally searches someone’s home without a warrant or obtains a confession through coercion, that evidence cannot be presented during a trial. The rule aims to protect individual rights and discourage police misconduct by ensuring that improperly obtained evidence does not contribute to convictions. Essentially, it upholds fairness in the legal system by ensuring only legally acquired evidence is considered.