Video Description: Missouri House of Representatives - Lawmakers endorsed a proposed change to the state's constitution aiming to protect victims of sex crimes (Bill HJR-16: HTML, PDF).
Notice how the text of the proposed amendment states: "relevant evidence of prior criminal acts, whether charged or uncharged" then goes on to say that it can be excluded if it is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.
It's my understanding that evidence of past crimes was not allowed because any introduction of such things unfairly prejudices the court/jury by it's very nature... and any evidence pertaining to an uncharged crime would be prejudicial by it's very nature even more so.
Notice how the text of the proposed amendment states: "relevant evidence of prior criminal acts, whether charged or
ReplyDeleteuncharged" then goes on to say that it can be excluded if it is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.
It's my understanding that evidence of past crimes was not allowed because any introduction of such things unfairly prejudices the court/jury by it's very nature... and any evidence pertaining to an uncharged crime would be prejudicial by it's very nature even more so.