§ 1235 [Prior Inconsistent Statements Hearsay Exception]

If a witness says something in court that contradicts something they said before, that earlier statement can be used as evidence. Normally, out-of-court statements are blocked by the hearsay rule, but this rule creates an exception for statements that don't match what the witness is saying now.

For example, if a witness told police one thing right after an accident but then says something different on the stand, the earlier statement can be brought in. This helps the jury see the full picture and decide whether to trust what the witness is saying.

The statement has to follow the rules laid out in Section 770, which generally means the witness needs to be given a chance to explain or deny the earlier statement.