What does it mean if evidence is discovered through inevitable discovery?

The concept of inevitable discovery refers to a legal doctrine that allows evidence to be admitted in court even if it was obtained through unconstitutional means, provided that the prosecution can demonstrate that the evidence would have inevitably been discovered through lawful methods. In other words, if law enforcement can show that they would have come across the evidence regardless of the circumstances surrounding its initial discovery, then it can be considered admissible.

This principle seeks to balance the need for law enforcement to effectively investigate crimes while also upholding constitutional protections against unlawful searches and seizures. Hence, the correct answer emphasizes that the evidence in question would have been found anyway through lawful means, which underscores the rationale behind the inevitable discovery doctrine.