Hearsay rules generally require what?

• A. Hearsay is generally admissible, with exceptions.
• B. Hearsay is generally inadmissible, with specific exceptions.
• C. Hearsay applies only to digital evidence.
• D. Hearsay is identical to witness testimony.

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that out-of-court statements offered to prove what happened are usually not allowed as evidence because they weren’t made under oath and can’t be tested through cross-examination. Hearsay rules are designed to protect reliability by keeping those statements out unless there’s a good reason to admit them. However, there are specific exceptions where these statements can be admitted when their reliability is considered sufficient. Examples often used in practice include excited utterances, statements about medical treatment, business records kept in the normal course of business, and admissions by a party opponent. These exceptions let investigators and courts use important information while still guarding against the uncertainties that come with hearsay.

If you’re wondering about the other options: saying hearsay is generally admissible ignores the reliability safeguards; saying it applies only to digital evidence is incorrect because hearsay covers any out-of-court statement in any form; and saying it’s identical to witness testimony misses the fact that hearsay is statements outside the courtroom, not the sworn testimony given in court.