Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy (NVCJA) Practice Exam

What does testimonial evidence include?

1. Records of physical evidence

2. Verbal information provided by a victim or witness

3. Documents from a business

4. Physical possessions of the accused

The correct answer is: Verbal information provided by a victim or witness

Testimonial evidence encompasses verbal information provided by individuals, such as victims or witnesses, during legal proceedings. This type of evidence is crucial in establishing facts and narratives related to a case, as it conveys personal observations, experiences, or knowledge about the events in question. Witnesses may recount what they saw or heard, contributing to the overall body of evidence available to a court. In contrast, the other options refer to different classifications of evidence. Records of physical evidence, such as documents or physical items, do not fall under testimonial evidence because they do not involve verbal accounts or firsthand observations. Documents from a business are considered documentary evidence and are not based on personal testimony. Lastly, physical possessions of the accused qualify as physical evidence as well, rather than testimonial evidence, since they consist of tangible items rather than verbal accounts. Therefore, the focus on verbal information in option B accurately characterizes testimonial evidence in the context of legal proceedings.