LENGTH: 2 Pages Assignment Instructions For this essay, you will provide a summary of the practical application of criminal procedures. In your response, please address the following: -Provide a summa

Amendment Four to the US Constitution is a critical component of criminal procedure, and it forbids irrational investigations and captures by governmental authorities. It calls for warrants to be issued solely on presumptive cause and must state the area to be investigated and those things or persons to be captured. The amendment assures personal privacy and property, preventing the police from entering citizens' lives at their discretion. Amendment Four’s requirement of both a permit and probable cause is waived under the exigency doctrine. The doctrine allows warrantless searches when the governmental interest surpasses ordinary law enforcement, e.g., making schools safe or keeping order in prisons. The searches become reasonable where the governmental special need outweighs the individual's expectation of privacy (Gardner & Anderson, 2016). 

Proof is the foundation for prosecution, as it forms the basis for determining guilt or innocence. Several types of evidence are utilized in legal proceedings: testimonial, material, illustrative, direct, circumstantial, and forensic. Testimonial proof is typically presented to the court, orally to a court or before a magistrate, tribunal, or board under affirmation or oath. Material proof refers to tangible objects, such as weapons or documents, while demonstrative evidence includes charts or models to illustrate facts. Direct proof directly proves a truth, such as a spectator’s account, whereas inferred proof requires the conjecture to connect it to a conclusion, such as fingerprints at the place of crime. Forensic evidence is derived from scientific analysis, such as DNA testing. Evidence is classified based on source and reliability; ordinary or lay witnesses can only bear witness to truths they directly saw, while professional witnesses can offer specialized thinking depending on their training and experience (Gardner & Anderson, 2016). 

The exclusionary rule is a fundamental principle of criminal procedure forbidding the use of evidence obtained from violating a defendant's constitutional right, mainly the Fourth Amendment rights. Evidence obtained under an unlawful search or seizure by the police is termed "exclusionary" and is not usually admissible in any proceeding. The reason behind this law is to shield against police misconduct and uphold the integrity of the judiciary. There are certain exceptions in this law, for instance, the good-faith exception, under which the use of evidence is permitted when officers reasonably relied on a defective warrant (Gardner and Anderson, 2016).The golden rule of evidence requires using the best available evidence in court, such as original documents or firsthand evidence, rather than copies or secondhand evidence. The principle safeguards the power and genuineness of the judicial process and forbids the admission of anything short of original evidence or hearsay, except for a few established exceptions (Gardner and Anderson, 2016). 

Competency assessments are of significant value in criminal cases, determining whether the defendants possess adequate mental capacity to assist in their defense. Competency evaluation determines whether a defendant is or is not able to comprehend the nature and consequences of the charges against them and assist their attorney. It is based on the premise that an equitable trial mandates that the defendant be able to understand the charge, the possible punishment, and the function of courtroom participants. If a defendant is found to be incompetent, the court will typically order treatment or education until competency is restored, delaying the trial until the defendant can participate fully. Competency evaluations safeguard the entitlements of the accused and uphold the fairness of the criminal justice system, ensuring that convictions are not obtained against individuals who cannot adequately defend themselves (Gardner & Anderson, 2016).

ReferencesGardner, T. J., & Anderson, T. M. (2016). Criminal evidence: Principles and cases (9th ed.). Cengage Learning.Wierda, M. (2003). International criminal evidence: New directions. Law & Practice of International Courts & Tribunals, 2(3), 401–409. https://doi.org/10.1163/1571513032024712