The Whiteley Rule, also known as the Fellow-Officer Rule, permits a law enforcement officer to conduct a valid investigative stop or arrest without personal knowledge of reasonable suspicion or probable cause, as long as they are acting on the knowledge of another officer and the collective knowledge of the law enforcement office.
The Whiteley rule, also known as the fellow-officer rule, is a principle in criminal procedure that allows an investigative stop or an arrest to be considered valid even if the law enforcement officer lacks personal knowledge to establish reasonable suspicion or probable cause. This is permitted as long as the officer is acting on the knowledge of another officer and the collective knowledge of the law enforcement office. For example, if Officer A receives information from Officer B that a suspect has committed a crime and is currently in a certain location, Officer A can make an arrest without personally witnessing the crime or having direct knowledge of the suspect’s actions. This is because Officer A is acting on the collective knowledge of the law enforcement office. The Whiteley rule is important in allowing law enforcement officers to work together and share information to effectively investigate and prevent crime. However, it is also important to ensure that officers are not relying solely on hearsay or unreliable sources of information when making arrests or conducting searches.
The Whiteley Rule is a legal principle that states that a person cannot be convicted solely based on their own uncorroborated confession.
The rule was established to protect individuals from being wrongfully convicted based solely on unreliable or coerced confessions.
Yes, the Whiteley Rule applies to all types of confessions, including confessions made to law enforcement officials or in court.
If a confession is not corroborated by other evidence, it may be deemed unreliable and inadmissible in court.
In most cases, if a confession is the only evidence against a person and it is not corroborated, it is unlikely that they will be convicted.
There are some exceptions to the Whiteley Rule, such as when a confession is supported by other strong evidence or when the confession is made voluntarily and without coercion.
The Whiteley Rule protects individuals’ rights by ensuring that they are not convicted based solely on unreliable or coerced confessions, which could lead to wrongful convictions.
The Whiteley Rule primarily applies to criminal cases, but its underlying principles of reliability and corroboration may also be considered in certain civil cases.
Yes, a defendant can choose to waive the protection of the Whiteley Rule and admit their uncorroborated confession as evidence.
The Whiteley Rule is a legal principle that has been recognized and applied in many jurisdictions, but its specific application may vary depending on the laws and precedents of each jurisdiction.
This site contains general legal information but does not constitute professional legal advice for your particular situation. Persuing this glossary does not create an attorney-client or legal adviser relationship. If you have specific questions, please consult a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.
This glossary post was last updated: 17th April 2024.
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