Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy (NVCJA) Practice Exam

What is the result when a confession is deemed inadmissible?

1. It can still be discussed in court

2. It is suppressed and not used as evidence

3. It affects the entire case

4. It may be used in future trials

The correct answer is: It is suppressed and not used as evidence

When a confession is deemed inadmissible, it is suppressed and not used as evidence in court proceedings. This situation generally arises when the confession has been obtained in violation of a defendant's rights, such as through coercion, without proper advisement of their legal rights, or in a manner that contravenes established legal standards. Suppressing a confession, means that the court will not allow any mention or consideration of that confession during the trial, ensuring that the defendant's right to a fair trial is upheld. The other options do not align with the legal principle surrounding inadmissibility. For instance, discussing a suppressed confession in court would compromise the integrity of the legal process and the defendant's rights. Similarly, suppressing a confession does not necessarily impact the entire case, as the outcome may rely on other evidence available. Lastly, an inadmissible confession cannot be used in future trials as it is tied to specific circumstances and rights violations, making its admissibility highly context-dependent and subject to the same legal scrutiny in any subsequent legal proceedings. Therefore, suppressing the confession effectively prevents its use as evidence altogether.