In sexual assault or child molestation cases, a defendant's similar acts are admissible for which purpose?

In sexual assault or child molestation cases, a defendant's similar acts are admissible for any relevant purpose, which explicitly includes propensity. This means that evidence of the defendant’s past behavior may be used to demonstrate a pattern or tendency to commit such acts, which is often relevant to proving the credibility of allegations against them. The rationale behind allowing this type of evidence is that it can help establish a context for the accused's actions, making it more likely that they would commit similar acts again.

In these cases, the law recognizes that prior behavior of a similar nature can inform the current accusations and help the jury understand the defendant's character related to the specific charges. It is important to note that the admissibility comes with guidelines to ensure fairness and prevent unfair prejudice. Nevertheless, this principle emphasizes the use of similar acts as a vital piece of evidence in assessing the case at hand.