What does hearsay evidence refer to?

Hearsay evidence refers to out-of-court statements that are offered for the truth of the matter asserted in those statements. This type of evidence is generally not admissible in court because it relies on the credibility of someone other than the witness who is testifying. The rationale behind this rule is that the person who made the out-of-court statement is not present to be cross-examined, which raises concerns about the reliability and accuracy of their assertions.

In legal contexts, using hearsay could lead to misunderstandings of the actual events, as it is based on someone else's interpretation or recollection rather than direct experience. This fundamentally differentiates hearsay from other types of evidence, such as statements made under oath, which are more reliably documented and can be challenged in court. Additionally, direct evidence comes from witnesses providing firsthand accounts of what they observed, while formal admissions of guilt are specific acknowledgments of wrongdoing made by a defendant, both of which do not fall under the hearsay category.