Which of the following is correct regarding impeachment for truthfulness?

• A. Extrinsic evidence is never allowed
• B. Extrinsic evidence is permitted to show a witness's bad reputation for truth and veracity
• C. Extrinsic evidence is permitted only for collateral matters
• D. Extrinsic evidence is permitted only if the witness testifies about reputation

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is how a witness’s honesty is attacked or supported during impeachment. You can use evidence of the witness’s general character for truthfulness—specifically, their reputation for truthfulness or an opinion about their honesty—to attack or bolster credibility. Extrinsic testimony about a witness’s bad reputation for truth and veracity is allowed because it gives the jury a general gauge of the witness’s honesty, not just the impact of a single incident.

This fits with the idea that you’re not proving honesty by a single deed but by how the witness is viewed in general in terms of truthfulness. It’s worth noting that this kind of reputation evidence is distinct from evidence of specific dishonest acts to impeach credibility, which is typically limited to cross-examination about specific acts (and other rules govern how that evidence can be used). Also, reputation evidence can come from others, not only from the witness’s own testimony, and it isn’t restricted to “collateral” matters.