Declarations

Many of the exceptions to the rule prohibiting hearsay evidence in criminal proceedings are declaration exceptions. A declaration is a formal or explicit statement or announcement.

Declaration exceptions to the hearsay rule include:

• Dying declaration
• Declarations against penal interest
• Declarations against pecuniary or proprietary interest
• Declarations in furtherance of a common unlawful design
• Declarations in the course of duty
• Declarations connected with relevant acts
• Declarations of bodily feelings and conditions
• Declarations of mental or emotional state