Which term refers to the protection against use of illegally obtained evidence?

• A. Double jeopardy
• B. Exclusionary rule
• C. Miranda rights
• D. Due process

Answer: (B)

The exclusionary rule protects against the use of evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment. When law enforcement conducts an illegal search or seizure, the evidence found is generally barred from being admitted at trial, which discourages police misconduct and upholds constitutional rights. This rule also covers derivative evidence, often described as the fruit of the poisonous tree, though there are exceptions (like independent source or good faith reliance on a defective warrant). The purpose is to keep judicial proceedings fair and to deter unlawful police conduct. By contrast, double jeopardy deals with trying someone again for the same offense, Miranda rights relate to warnings before questioning, and due process is a broader fairness guarantee in legal procedures, not specifically about suppressing illegally obtained evidence.