What is impeachment evidence used for?

Impeachment evidence is specifically utilized to assess the credibility or reliability of a witness. This type of evidence is introduced to challenge the truthfulness, reliability, or integrity of a witness's testimony during a trial. The goal is to show that the witness may have biases, lack of memory, or past inconsistency that could undermine their statements, thereby affecting their overall trustworthiness in the eyes of the judge and jury.

While establishing the defendant's motive, providing context for the crime, and determining the guilt of the defendant are all essential elements of the trial process, they do not fall under the scope of impeachment evidence. Instead, impeachment is a focused technique aimed solely at questioning a witness's reliability, which is critical for ensuring that only credible testimony informs the jury's decision. This process plays a vital role in the justice system, as it helps maintain the integrity of the legal proceedings by highlighting the importance of truthful and reliable testimonies.