In Arizona v. Youngblood, what issue was brought to light?

In Arizona v. Youngblood, the central issue revolved around the bad faith in the preservation of evidence. The case highlighted the importance of law enforcement agencies' responsibilities to preserve evidence that could be critical for the defendant's case, particularly when that evidence might exonerate the accused. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that due process is violated only when the state acts in bad faith in failing to preserve evidence that is potentially useful to the accused.

This ruling underscored the necessity for law enforcement to act responsibly and to ensure that any physical evidence is handled and preserved correctly, as failure to do so can impact the fairness of a trial. The case serves as a precedent in ensuring that the rights of defendants are protected, particularly regarding the integrity of evidence and the expectations of law enforcement conduct in preserving that evidence.