What is the legal principle that excludes evidence obtained in violation of constitutional rights?

The legal principle that excludes evidence obtained in violation of constitutional rights is the Exclusionary Rule. This rule is vital to the protection of individuals against unlawful searches and seizures, primarily governed by the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. When evidence is acquired in violation of a person's constitutional rights, such as through an illegal search or without a proper warrant, the Exclusionary Rule mandates that this evidence cannot be used in court.

The Exclusionary Rule plays a fundamental role in upholding the integrity of the legal system by ensuring that law enforcement adheres to constitutional standards during their investigative processes. This serves not only to protect individual rights but also to deter law enforcement from engaging in unlawful practices.

In contrast, while the Fourth Amendment directly addresses unlawful searches and seizures, it is the Exclusionary Rule that specifically enforces the consequences of such violations by disallowing the use of tainted evidence in legal proceedings. The Bill of Rights represents a broader collection of individual freedoms and protections, whereas the Witness Protection Act is focused on the protection of witnesses in legal cases and does not pertain to the validity of evidence. Thus, the Exclusionary Rule is the correct answer to the question posed.