ATTENUATION DOCTRINE

attenuation doctrine ([schwa]-ten-y[schwa]-way-sh[schwa]n).Criminal procedure. The rule pro-viding that evidence obtained by illegal means may nonetheless be admissible if the connection between the evidence and the illegal means is sufficiently attenuated or remote. • This is an exception to the fruit-of-the-poisonous-tree doctrine. See FRUIT-OF-THE-POISONOUS-TREE DOCTRINE . [Cases: Criminal Law 394.1(3). C.J.S. Criminal Law §§ 771, 773–775.]