Which of the following describes the "fruit of the poisonous tree" doctrine?

The "fruit of the poisonous tree" doctrine is a legal metaphor used to describe how evidence obtained indirectly through illegal means is also deemed inadmissible in court. This principle extends the exclusionary rule, which prevents the use of evidence directly obtained from an unlawful search or seizure. The rationale behind this doctrine is that if the initial act of obtaining evidence is tainted by illegality, then any subsequent evidence derived from that act is also tainted and cannot be used in prosecution.

For example, if law enforcement conducts an illegal search and discovers evidence that leads them to additional incriminating evidence, the latter is considered the "fruit" of the original illegal action (the "tree"). Thus, it cannot be used against the defendant in court.

This doctrine does not imply that all evidence must be discarded if one piece is unlawful, nor does it only pertain to physical evidence; it applies broadly to any evidence that is derived from illegal actions. Therefore, the correct answer highlights the critical aspect of the legal principle that ensures the integrity of the judicial process by protecting against evidence that has been influenced by unlawful conduct.