Legal Question in Criminal Law in Pennsylvania

Use of criminal history as evidence

Is it legal to use past sexual assult convictions as evidence in a new sexual assualt case? If yes is it a national law or only in certain states? If in certain states which ones are they?


Asked on 11/04/04, 11:54 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Mark Johns Mark Johns, Esquire

Re: Use of criminal history as evidence

The rules vary but a good general guide is that if the prior crime proves identifcation it comes in (Prior crime the person said x as in the present case)or absence of mistake (previous rape conviction claiming consent as defense). Crimes of dishonesty are relevant to credibility.

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Answered on 11/04/04, 12:51 pm


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