MIMIC Rule

The MIMIC Rule refers to the purposes for which a court will allow the introduction of evidence of prior crimes , wrongs, or actions of a defendant . Federal Rule of Evidence Rule 404(b) prohibits the use of such evidence for the purpose of proving a criminal disposition or character. At the same time, the rule allows the admission of such evidence to prove “ motive , opportunity, intent , preparation, plan, knowledge , identity, absence of mistake , or lack of accident.”

The MIMIC Rule is an acronym to quickly describe the permitted uses of this type of evidence.

• Motive
• Intent
• Mistake
• Identity
• Common scheme or plan

[Last reviewed in July of 2023 by the Wex Definitions Team ]

Keywords

• evidence

Wex

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