Exculpatory evidence is best described as information that may exonerate the defendant and must be disclosed by the prosecutor.

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Exculpatory evidence refers to information that could exonerate the defendant or reduce their culpability, and the prosecutor has a duty to disclose it. This obligation comes from due process and the principle that a fair trial requires the defense to have access to all favorable evidence, especially if it could affect guilt or punishment (Brady material). The concept isn’t limited to a single type of evidence; it can include alibi information, witness credibility issues, or any material fact that might cast doubt on the prosecution’s case.

The other terms describe different ideas. Direct evidence proves a fact on its own (such as an eyewitness account of the crime). Hearsay involves out-of-court statements offered for truth, with separate admissibility rules. Character evidence concerns traits of a person and is governed by specific rules about what may be admitted. None of these by themselves capture the obligation to disclose information that could exonerate the defendant, which is why exculpatory evidence is the best description.