What does character evidence in court most commonly seek to infer?

Character evidence in court most commonly seeks to infer the likelihood of a person's future actions. This type of evidence is introduced to establish that an individual has a particular character trait, which can then be used to suggest that they are more or less likely to engage in specific behavior relevant to the case. For instance, if a defendant is known for being honest, that character trait might be presented to argue that they are less likely to have committed fraud.

Using character evidence to predict future actions aligns with the principle that a person's past behavior may reflect their tendencies, thus providing insight into their potential future conduct. Courts often scrutinize the admissibility of this type of evidence due to concerns about its potential for prejudice, but when allowed, it primarily serves this purpose of inferring future behavior based on established character traits.