Rule 803(10) addresses?

• A. Public records
• B. Present sense impression
• C. Absence of a public record of a matter
• D. Recorded recollection

Answer: (C)

Absence of a public record can be admitted to prove that a matter did not occur or exist. In public-record systems, if a matter would normally be recorded and there is no entry, that lack of a record is meaningful evidence of nonexistence. This hinges on the routine, reliable nature of official record-keeping and applies only to public records, not private documents. It differs from other hearsay rules that deal with records that do exist or with other types of statements, such as a present sense impression or a recorded recollection. For example, if there is no entry in a public registry showing that a license was issued, that absence can support the conclusion that no license was granted, assuming proper foundation about the record-keeping system.