The opinion of the Court was delivered by
SCHREIBER, J.Defendant, John Phelps, a police officer, was acquitted of unlawfully conspiring with three individuals named DeMarco, Gerrizzo, and Hirtler to promote gambling and to maintain a gambling resort in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:37-2, N.J.S.A. *5052C:37-4, and N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2. During the trial, the court dismissed a charge of conspiracy to commit official misconduct by knowingly refraining from performing the duties of a police officer. However, defendant was convicted of misconduct in office by failing to report a gambling enterprise, contrary to N.J.S.A. 2C:30-2b. Defendant was sentenced to a five-year term in the New Jersey State Prison.
The key prosecution evidence consisted of (1) the composite tapes derived from wiretaps of telephone conversations between the defendant and coconspirators and between coconspirators, and (2) the bookmaker’s log sheets, which reflected the transactions discussed in the taped conversations. Defendant offered no evidence.
Defendant appealed on numerous grounds. The most substantial legal issue concerned the trial court’s admission of the taped statements of coconspirators under Evid.R. 63(9)(b), the coconspirator’s hearsay exception. The Appellate Division affirmed the conviction. 187 N.J.Super. 364 (1983). We granted the defendant’s petition for certification limited to the issue of the admissibility of statements made by coconspirators out of the presence of the defendant. 93 N.J. 309 (1983).
I
The indictment was the culmination of an investigation by the Morris County Prosecutor’s office of gambling activities in the vicinity of Parsippany-Troy Hills. Detective Michael Romano, who was in charge of the investigation, obtained judicial orders pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:156A-10 to tap the telephones of Angelo Gerrizzo and Thomas DeMarco, both of whom were believed to be key figures in the gambling operations. The prosecutor’s investigators intercepted hundreds of telephone calls involving bets on college and professional football games. The investigators identified forty-three different persons who discussed bets with Gerrizzo by telephone. Nearly all the callers used a code name, e.g., “Sheer,” “Doc,” “J.P.”
*506The investigation culminated in raids of Gerrizzo’s and DeMarco’s apartments sanctioned by valid search warrants. During the search of Gerrizzo’s apartment, one investigator received telephone calls placing bets. The police seized various notebooks documenting gambling activities, address books, and memo pads from Gerrizzo’s and DeMarco’s apartments. The code names and wagered amounts recorded in the books corresponded with those of the wiretapped phone calls.
Gerrizzo was the “sitter,” the person who would sit by the telephone and record wagers as they were phoned in to him. Gerrizzo reported to DeMarco, the “controller,” who would oversee the entire operation, including the receipt of wagers, the pay-off of successful bets, and the collection of gambling debts.
Both Gerrizzo and DeMarco resided in garden apartments located in a section of Parsippany-Troy Hills within the area patrolled by the defendant as a police officer. Defendant never reported this illegal gambling activity to his superiors. Proof of defendant’s knowledge of this situation was a crucial element in the State’s case. Tapes of eight telephone calls to Gerrizzo had been made by a person who identified himself as “J.P.” (the initials of defendant’s name, John Phelps) or “Johnny.” The prosecutor presented a composite tape of seven of these calls and Detective Romano identified the voice of “J.P.” or “Johnny” as defendant’s.
The tapes also included twenty-seven conversations between “Bill from Bach’s” (code name for William Gotshall, a bartender at Bach’s Tavern in Lake Hiawatha) and Gerrizzo. During these conversations there were references to “J.P.” or “Johnny.” In one conversation Gotshall mentioned defendant’s full name. That conversation pertained to a dispute over the balance in the gambling account shared by defendant and Gotshall. Gerrizzo quoted a figure and Gotshall insisted it should be higher. At that point Gerrizzo suggested that he review the preceding day’s action.
*507G. Let’s go over it, okay?
B. Yeah.
G. Alright, you had New England 100 times; you’re minus 550. The Jets 30 times, minus 165.1
B. Uh, what are the times?
G. 30 times, Jets.
B. Yeah? Oh yeah, that was Johnny Phelps, yeah, o.k.
Gotshall’s remark about “Johnny Phelps” suggests that he had forgotten that the defendant had placed a bet on the Jets on the previous day. More significantly, it suggests defendant’s identification as the oft-mentioned “J.P.” This hearsay also corroborated the earlier testimony identifying “J.P.’s” voice on the composite tape as that of defendant. Other discussions between Gerrizzo and DeMarco further confirmed that “J.P.” and “Bill from Bach’s” had a relationship as joint bettors.
The Gerrizzo-DeMarco tapes also were evidential in proving that defendant had introduced another bettor with the code name “Big Pete” into the operation. One pertinent conversation went as follows:
G. J.P. gave me some guy he said was going to call me. His name is Pete.
D. Pete?
G. Big Pete.
D. Big Pete.
G. Yeah. I don’t know if he is going to call for J.P. I don’t know if he is going to call himself. I don’t know. Uh, he says, “There’s a guy, Big Pete. He is going to call you.” He says, “It’s all right." I say, “Sure. I mean, is it all right with you? I mean, if there is — you know — you know — I don’t want to get in any [expletive] trouble, so I will be.” I say, “You know, is it okay?”
D. Uh, all right. No problem. Good.
The defendant objected to the admission of the conversations between “Bill from Bach’s” (Gotshall) and Gerrizzo and between Gerrizzo and DeMarco. The trial court ruled that the conversations were admissible as declarations by a coconspirator under Evid.R. 63(9), despite the defendant’s contentions *508that (1) there was insufficient proof of a conspiracy and of defendant’s participation in the conspiracy, and that such proof was a condition precedent to the admissibility of the hearsay, and (2) the court should have instructed the jurors to disregard the hearsay conversations if they found that such independent proof of a conspiracy was lacking.
II
A statement, made other than by a witness while testifying, offered to prove the truth of the content of the statement is hearsay evidence and is inadmissible unless it falls within one of the hearsay exceptions, most of which are found in Rule 63(1) through Rule 63(32). Evid.R. 63. The exceptions are justified primarily because the circumstances under which the statements were made provide strong indicia of reliability. See State v. Humphrey, 183 N.J.Super. 580, 589 (Law Div.1982); Brooks, “Evidence,” 14 Rutgers L.Rev. 390, 410-11 (1960) (contending that coconspirator’s hearsay statements not be admissible unless there is some intrinsic guarantee of reliability); cf. Levie, “Hearsay and Conspiracy, A Reexamination of the Co-Conspirators’ Exception to the Hearsay Rule,” 52 Mich.L.Rev. 1159, 1163-66 (1954) (advocating admissibility because of “the very great probative need for it”).
The coconspirator exception to the hearsay rule may be stated simply as follows: where two or more persons are alleged to have conspired to commit a crime or a civil wrong, any statement made by one during the course of and in furtherance of the conspiracy is admissible in evidence against any other member of the conspiracy. Evid.R. 63(9)(b). The admissibility of a statement of a coconspirator has been firmly entrenched in our jurisprudence. As early as 1791 the Supreme Court held in Patton v. Freeman, 1 N.J.L. 134, 136, that a conversation among conspirators in the defendant’s absence was admissible when there was proof of a conspiracy between the defendant and the declarants to perpetuate a fraud. Nu*509merous opinions since then have reconfirmed this exception to the hearsay rule. E.g., State v. Fischman, 108 N.J.L. 550, 551 (E. & A.1931); State v. Seidman, 107 N.J.L. 204, 206-07 (Sup.Ct.1931); State v. Dougherty, 86 N.J.L. 525, 540-41 (Sup.Ct.1915).
Presenting to a jury relevant and material evidence furthers its fact-finding ability to discern where the truth lies. Thus, admissibility into evidence of a coconspirator’s statement may advance that goal. This is particularly so in crimes involving conspiracy and fraud where much of the offense is effectuated through unwritten statements passed from one to another. It has been said, “silence, furtiveness and secrecy shroud the conduct and speech of coconspirators.” Note, “The Coconspirator’s Exception to the Hearsay Rule: Bootstrapping in the New Procedure from the First Circuit,” 50 U.Colo.L.Rev. 93, 103-04 (1978). Coconspirator’s hearsay may be essential to establishing the existence of an illicit agreement or association between them. Levie, supra, at 1163-66. This is especially significant in cases of organized crime.
When the Rules of Evidence were codified by this Court and the Legislature in 1967, N.J.S.A. 2A:84A-1 to -49, Evid.R. 63(9)(b) was formally adopted.2 The rule in pertinent part reads:
A statement which would be admissible if made by the declarant at the hearing is admissible against a party if * * * (b) at the time the statement was made the party and the declarant were participating in a plan to commit a crime or civil wrong and the statement was made in furtherance of that plan.
Three distinct conditions must be met for statements to qualify for admissibility under the Rule. First, the statement *510must have been made in furtherance of the conspiracy. State v. Rios, 17 N.J. 572, 596 (1955). Second, the statement must have been made during the course of the conspiracy. State v. Carbone, 10 N.J. 329, 340 (1952); State v. Yedwab, 43 N.J.Super. 367, 374 (App.Div.), certif. denied, 23 N.J. 550 (1957). Lastly, our courts have held that there must be evidence, independent of the hearsay, of the existence of the conspiracy and defendant’s relationship to it. State v. Boiardo, 111 N.J. Super. 219, 230-31 (App.Div.), certif. denied, 57 N.J. 130 (1970), cert. denied, 401 U.S. 948, 91 S.Ct. 931, 28 L.Ed.2d 231 (1971); State v. Hacker, 167 N.J.Super. 166, 174 (Law Div.1979).
The first two conditions reflect notions that an agent’s statements are vicariously attributable to a principal. See State v. Carbone, supra, 10 N.J. at 339-40 (ascribing the theory of admissibility to a joint or mutual agency and stating that the “acts and declarations of an agent, within the scope of his authority, are considered and treated as the acts and declarations of his principal”). The rationale is that participation in a conspiracy confers upon coconspirators the authority to act in another’s behalf to achieve the goals of the common scheme. Since conspirators are substantively liable for the acts of their coconspirators in furtherance of the common plan, so too should they be responsible for statements uttered by coconspirators to further that plan. See Morgan, “The Rationale of Vicarious Admissions,” 42 Harv.L.Rev. 461 (1929). Judge Learned Hand explained:
Such declarations are admitted upon no doctrine of the law of evidence, but of the substantive law of crime. When men enter into an agreement for an unlawful end, they become ad hoc agents for one another, and have made “a partnership in crime.” What one does pursuant to their common purpose, all do, and, as declarations may be such acts, they are competent against all. [Van Riper v. United States, 13 F.2d 961, 967 (2d Cir.1926).]
The last requirement, that the existence of a conspiracy and defendant’s participation be demonstrated by evidence other than the hearsay statement sought to be admitted against the coconspirator, reduces the fear that a defendant might be convicted or held liable in damages solely on the basis of *511evidence that he has had no opportunity to impeach or refute. See Flintkote Co. v. Lysfjord, 246 F.2d 368, 386-87 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 355 U.S. 835, 78 S.Ct. 54, 2 L.Ed.2d 46 (1957). In Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 75, 62 S.Ct. 457, 467, 86 L.Ed. 680, 701 (1942), the Supreme Court observed that in the absence of such independent evidence “hearsay would lift itself by its own boot straps to the level of competent evidence.”
The independent evidence may take many forms. There may be documentary material, such as books and records, testimony of witnesses, or other relevant evidence. There may be a combination of different types of proof. The evidence may be direct or circumstantial. In any event the independent evidence must be substantial enough to engender a strong belief in the existence of the conspiracy and of defendant’s participation.
This general requirement does not preclude the trial court, in determining whether the coconspirator hearsay exception should apply, from considering some hearsay evidence in conjunction with independent evidence. If the independent evidence is substantial, the trial court may also consider a coconspirator’s hearsay statements that it decides are reliable and trustworthy to determine whether the State has met its burden of proving the existence of the conspiracy and the defendant’s participation in it.
An important circumstance is that the nature of the hearsay should engender a strong sense of its inherent trustworthiness. Here, where telephone conversations have been taped during interceptions authorized by law and the integrity of the tapes assured, the dependability of the taped conversation would justify reliance on their content. So, too, when the declarant makes statements supportive of the existence of a conspiracy of which he is a part, its trustworthiness is enhanced because of the likelihood that he would not have made declarations contrary to his best interests unless they were truthful. 4 J. Wigmore, Evidence §§ 1077, 1079 (Chadbourn rev. ed. 1972); *512see Evid.R. 63(10). For example, suppose government agents who are monitoring a narcotics operation pursuant to a court order overhear a conversation in which a dealer, A, speaks to a buyer, B. A tells B that he can expect a carrier, C, to arrive at B’s home in a blue 1980 Chevrolet at midnight, that C is a 35-year-old white male about six feet tall, that C will be wearing a leather jacket and black pants, and that C will use the code name “Meatball.” Suppose further that B turns State’s witness and testifies at C’s trial that this entire description turned out to be correct. There is no compelling reason why the circumstantial indicia of reliability provided by A’s hearsay statement ought not be considered in determining whether A’s hearsay statement is admissible against C under the coconspirator exception. When the coconspirator’s hearsay statement is used because of its inherent reliability, it ought to be considered in tandem with the independent corroborative proof. See United States v. Vinson, 606 F.2d 149, 153 (6th Cir.1979), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 1074, 100 S.Ct. 1020, 62 L.Ed.2d 756 (1980); United States v. Martorano, 557 F.2d 1, 11-12 (1st Cir.1977), cert. denied, 435 U.S. 922, 98 S.Ct. 1484, 55 L.Ed.2d 515 (1978); see also United States v. Petrozziello, 548 F.2d 20, 23 n.2 (1st Cir.1977) (dictum); 1 J. Weinstein & M. Berger, Weinstein’s Evidence ¶ 104[05], at 104-44 to -46 (1982); Bergman, “The Coconspirators’ Exception: Defining the Standard of the Independent Evidence Test Under the New Federal Rules of Evidence,” 5 Hofstra L.Rev. 99,105 (1976). But see United States v. James, 590 F.2d 575, 581 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 442 U.S. 917, 99 S.Ct. 2836, 61 L.Ed.2d 283 (1979); United States v. Cambindo Valencia, 609 F.2d 603, 631 (2d Cir.1979), cert. denied, 446 U.S. 940, 100 S.Ct. 2163, 64 L.Ed.2d 795 (1980); United States v. Bell, 573 F.2d 1040, 1044 (8th Cir.1978). In short, “the whole factual mosaic,” State v. Yedwab, supra, 43 N.J.Super. at 378, should be examined.
Though this position is seemingly in harmony with Evid.R. 8(1), which provides that the Rules of Evidence need not be adhered to by the trial court when determining the admissibility of evidence, the defendant contends that admissibility is to be *513resolved by the jury, not the trial court. We turn next to consideration of that contention.
Ill
Defendant argues that the ultimate determination of whether the conspiracy and defendant’s status has been established by independent evidence is for the jury. He maintains that the jury should have been instructed to consider the hearsay only if it found that the conspiracy had been proven. See State v. D’Arco, 153 N.J.Super. 258, 265 (App.Div.1977) (jury charged); State v. Farinella, 150 N.J.Super. 61, 68 (App. Div.) (jury charged), certif. denied, 75 N.J. 17 (1977). The defendant’s contention conflicts both with the Rules of Evidence and with the purposes to be served by admission of the proposed evidence.
Evid.R. 8 provides clear guidance concerning who should determine the admissibility of coconspirator declarations. The Rule reads:
(1) When the qualification of a person to be a witness, or the admissibility of evidence, or the existence of a privilege is stated in these rules to be subject to a condition, and the fulfillment of the condition is in issue, that issue is to be determined by the judge. In his determination the rules of evidence shall not apply except for Rule 4 or a valid claim of privilege. * * “ The judge may hear and determine such matters out of the presence or hearing of the jury. This rule shall not be construed to limit the right of a party to introduce before the jury evidence relevant to weight or credibility.
(2) Where evidence is otherwise admissible if relevant and its relevance is subject to a condition, the judge shall admit it if there is sufficient evidence to support a finding of the condition. In such cases the judge shall instruct the jury to consider the issue of the fulfillment of the condition and to disregard the evidence if they find that the condition was not fulfilled. The judge shall instruct the jury to disregard the evidence if he subsequently determines that a jury could not reasonably find that the condition was fulfilled. [Evid.R. 8(1) and (2) (emphasis added).]
Under Evid.R. 8(1), the trial court alone determines whether the conditions precedent to admission of coconspirator hearsay have been satisfied. These conditions (a statement made during and in furtherance of the conspiracy and the existence of other evidence of the conspiracy to which the defendant was a *514party) focus on the reliability of the hearsay and not its relevance.
Evid.R. 8(2), on the other hand, concerns evidence whose relevance is subject to satisfaction of a condition precedent. The Rule delegates to the jury the function of deciding whether such a condition has been met. It should be noted that the original version of Evid.R. 8(2) referred to “competency,” not “relevance,” and the modification to “relevance” parallels Fed.R.Evid. 104. See Evid.R. 8 comment 5 (1983). The Report of the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Evidence (1963), in its comment on a prior draft of Rule 8, expressed the thought that
conditions of admissibility * * * must be found by the judge. Rule 8 provides that the judge shall find the necessary preliminary facts and that, with certain indicated exceptions, his finding on the question of admissibility shall be final. These are cases in which the evidence, if found inadmissible, is excluded not because it is not relevant but rather in spite of its relevance, for reasons of established policy which in most cases are not readily understood by a jury. It is necessary in such cases to keep the preliminary facts bearing on admissibility from the jury. A binding preliminary finding is therefore made by the judge. This much is universal doctrine and is entirely consonant with New Jersey law. See, e.g., Clendennin v. Clancy, 82 N.J.L. 418, 81 Atl. 750 (E. & A.1911); Moosbrugger v. Swick, 86 N.J.L. 419, 92 Atl. 269 (Sup.Ct.1914). [Id. at 23.]
Fed.R.Evid. 104(a) and (b) are comparable to Evid.R. 8. The Federal Rule reads in pertinent part as follows:
(a) Questions of admissibility generally. Preliminary questions concerning the qualification of a person to be a witness, the existence of a privilege, or the admissibility of evidence shall be determined by the court, subject to the provisions of subdivision (b). In making its determination it is not bound by the rules of evidence except those with respect to privileges.
(b) Relevancy conditioned on fact. When the relevancy of evidence depends upon the fulfillment of a condition of fact, the court shall admit it upon, or subject to, the introduction of evidence sufficient to support a finding of the fulfillment of the condition. [Fed.R.Evid. 104(a) and (b), 28 U.S.C.A. (1975).]
Further, the language of Fed.R.Evid. 801(d)(2) is similar to our Evid.R. 63(9)(b). The Federal Rule provides that a “statement is not hearsay if * * * (2) * * * The statement is offered against a party and is * * * (E) a statement by a coconspirator of a party during the course and in furtherance of the conspiracy." The federal circuit courts have overwhelmingly inter*515preted Fed.R.Evid. 104(a) and (b) and 801(d)(2)(E) to require the trial court to decide the issue of admissibility of a coconspirator’s hearsay statement. See United States v. Alvarez, 696 F.2d 1307, 1310 (11th Cir.1983), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 103 S.Ct. 1878, 76 L.Ed.2d 809 (1983); United States v. Ciampaglia, 628 F.2d 632, 637-38 (1st Cir.), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 956, 101 S.Ct. 365, 66 L.Ed.2d 221 (1980); United States v. Jackson, 627 F.2d 1198, 1216-18 (D.C.Cir.1980); United States v. Petersen, 611 F.2d 1313, 1330 (10th Cir.1979), cert. denied, 447 U.S. 905, 100 S.Ct. 2985, 64 L.Ed.2d 854 (1980); United States v. Santiago, 582 F.2d 1128, 1130-33 (7th Cir.1978); United States v. Enright, 579 F.2d 980, 985-87 (6th Cir.1978); United States v. Bell, 573 F.2d 1040, 1043 (8th Cir.1978); United States v. Stanchich, 550 F.2d 1294, 1297-98 (2d Cir.1977). Accord 4 J. Wigmore, supra, § 1079, at 26 (Supp.1983) (“The question of whether or not there is sufficient independent evidence of a conspiracy should be decided by the judge. The jury has no part in that decision.”).
Having the trial court rather than the jury evaluate reliability before admitting or rejecting evidence recognizes the judge’s skill and experience. Jurors lack that training and could be unduly influenced by unreliable hearsay.3 Instructing the jurors would necessarily apprise them of the court’s preliminary finding of a conspiracy and perhaps influence their considera*516tion of the substantive conspiracy count. See United States v. Santiago, supra, 582 F.2d at 1132. It is too much to expect jurors to be able to disregard evidence they have already properly heard upon their determination at some later time that conditions precedent to admissibility have not been fulfilled. As Judge Learned Hand observed, “it is a practical impossibility for laymen, and for that matter for most judges, to keep their minds in the isolated compartments that this requires.” United States v. Dennis, 183 F.2d 201, 231 (2d Cir.1950), aff'd, 341 U.S. 494, 71 S.Ct. 857, 95 L.Ed. 1137 (1951).
The defendant argues that if the jury finds a defendant not guilty of the conspiracy, the coconspirator’s hearsay statements must be disregarded. This contention is flawed for two reasons. First, the evidence may be relevant on substantive issues other than conspiracy, such as the defendant’s official misconduct in this case. See State v. Louf, 64 N.J. 172, 176 (1973); State v. Yormark, 117 N.J.Super. 315, 336 (App.Div.1971), certif. denied, 60 N.J. 138, cert. denied, 407 U.S. 925, 92 S.Ct. 2459, 32 L.Ed.2d 812 (1972). Once the statement is admitted, it may properly be considered by the jury on all matters with respect to which the statement is relevant. Indeed, the statement of a coconspirator may be admissible even though the defendant has not been indicted, let alone convicted, of conspiracy. State v. Carbone, supra, 10 N.J. at 338. Second, the difference between the standards of proof assigned to criminal guilt (beyond a reasonable doubt) as compared with evidential admissibility (“preponderance,” “substantial,” or “reliable” evidence) would justify consideration of coconspirator hearsay against a party acquitted of a proven conspiracy because he successfully raised a statutory defense such as renunciation. See N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2e.
IV
A corollary issue concerns the standard of proof that the court should apply to decide whether the conditions precedent *517to admissibility have been met. Our courts have applied several different standards. Some have required that the prosecution produce only a “prima facie” showing that a conspiracy existed and that the hearsay was uttered during and in furtherance of the conspiracy. See State v. Cavanna, 70 N.J.Super. 176, 180-81 (App.Div.1961), certif. denied, 36 N.J. 298 (1962). Others have approved the fair preponderance of the evidence or a likelihood of illicit association test. See State v. D’Arco, supra, 153 N.J.Super. at 263; State v. Sherwin, 127 N.J.Super. 370, 383 (App.Div.), certif. denied, 65 N.J. 569, cert. dismissed, 419 U.S. 801, 95 S.Ct. 9, 42 L.Ed.2d 32 (1974); State v. Seaman, 114 N.J.Super. 19, 28 (App.Div.), certif. denied, 58 N.J. 594 (1971), cert. denied, 404 U.S. 1015, 92 S.Ct. 674, 30 L.Ed.2d 662 (1972). In State v. Boiardo, supra, 111 N.J.Super. at 231, the court applied yet another standard—“sufficient” proof. Finally, in State v. Hacker, supra, 167 N.J.Super. at 174, the court adopted a rule of “slight evidence” to allow the jury to decide if the defendants were coconspirators after it had determined the existence of the conspiracy beyond a reasonable doubt.
The standard most favored by the federal circuit courts is that of a fair preponderance of the evidence. See, e.g., United States v. Cicale, 691 F.2d 95, 103 (2d Cir.1982), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 103 S.Ct. 1771, 76 L.Ed.2d 344 (1983); United States v. Kopituk, 690 F.2d 1289, 1324 (11th Cir.1982), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 103 S.Ct. 2089, 77 L.Ed.2d 300 (1983); United States v. Rodriquez, 689 F.2d 516, 518 (5th Cir.1982); United States v. Ciampaglia, supra, 628 F.2d at 638; United States v. Provenzano, 620 F.2d 985, 999-1000 (3d Cir.), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 899, 101 S.Ct. 267, 66 L.Ed.2d 129 (1980); United States v. Santiago, supra, 582 F.2d at 1134-35; United States v. Enright, supra, 579 F.2d at 986. This standard is sometimes expressed in terms of “likelihood.” See, United States v. Jones, 542 F.2d 186, 203 & n.32 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, 426 U.S. 922, 96 S.Ct. 2629, 49 L.Ed.2d 375 (1976). Under this approach, the prosecution must prove that it is more probable than not that *518defendant participated in an existing conspiracy in order for the hearsay to be admitted. See generally Saltzburg, “Standards of Proof and Preliminary Questions of Fact,” 27 Stan.L.Rev. 271 (1975).
The United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and several state and federal district courts have adopted a lesser standard, requiring that the prosecution make only a “prima facie” showing that a conspiracy existed and that the hearsay was uttered during its existence and in its furtherance. See, e.g., United States v. Miranda-Uriarte, 649 F.2d 1345, 1349 (1981); United States v. Weiner, 578 F.2d 757, 768-69, cert. denied, 439 U.S. 981, 99 S.Ct. 568, 58 L.Ed.2d 651 (1978); Annot., “Necessity and Sufficiency of Independent Evidence of Conspiracy to Allow Admission of Extrajudicial Statements of Coconspirators,” 46 A.L.R.3d 1148, § 5 (1972 & Supp.1983), and cases cited therein. Some courts have modified this approach. After a “prima facie” showing of the existence of the conspiracy, only “slight evidence” of defendant’s participation need be produced. See, e.g., United States v. Brooklier, 685 F.2d 1208, 1219 (9th Cir.1982), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 1206, 103 S.Ct. 1194, 75 L.Ed.2d 439 (1983); United States v. Tiche, 424 F.Supp. 996, 1103-04 (W.D.Pa.), aff’d, 564 F.2d 90 (3d Cir.1977); see also Annot., supra, 46 A.L.R.3d 1148, § 6 (1972 & Supp.1983), and cases cited therein.
A few commentators have suggested that the conditions precedent be established by proof “beyond a reasonable doubt” before admitting a coconspirator’s declarations. See J. Weinstein & M. Berger, supra, ¶ 104[05], at 104-44; Bergman, supra, at 100, 106; Saltzburg, supra, at 273-74.
We believe that the appropriate test should be whether the prosecution has demonstrated by a fair preponderance of evidence that the conspiracy existed and that the defendant participated in it. In making that determination, the trial court may consider the coconspirator’s hearsay declaration if it is satisfied that such declaration is reliable and that there is other *519evidence substantial enough to engender a belief in the conspiracy’s existence and the defendant’s participation in it. Furthermore, we note that in making its determination the trial court is not bound by the Rules of Evidence except for a valid claim of privilege. Evid.R. 8(1).
Requiring proof “beyond a reasonable doubt” would place too heavy a burden on the prosecution and would exclude trustworthy information. The ruling involves admissibility of evidence, not determination of guilt or innocence. On the other hand, the “prima facie” standard has the tendency to permit into evidence statements that may be only marginally reliable. It has also been said that this test would encourage courts to deemphasize competency of evidence and improperly shift to the jurors the burden of determining competency. See Saltzburg, supra, at 302-04. Indeed, this “slight evidence” standard contains the seed of sweeping in innocent parties on the periphery of a conspiracy. It would be possible to assimilate slight evidence connecting defendant by business or social association with known conspirators despite the fact that the defendant had no relationship with the illegal combination. See Comment, “The Hearsay Exception for Co-conspirators’ Declarations,” 25 U.Chi.L.Rev. 530, 539-41 (1958). Moreover, since the trial court, when it considers the matter under Evid.R. 8, need not adhere to the Rules of Evidence, questions will arise concerning whether and what evidence supports a prima facie showing.
On balance, the “fair preponderance” is the most appropriate guideline. It will adequately safeguard defendants and yet permit the jury to hear reliable and trustworthy information. Accordingly, we adopt that standard.
Y
The timing of the trial court’s determination of admissibility may, as a practical matter, vitally affect the fairness of trial. No problem arises when the prosecution satisfies the conditions precedent before the hearsay statement *520is admitted. In those circumstances the trial court will usually have held a hearing and determined the “matters out of the presence or hearing of the jury.” Evid.R. 8(1). Such a hearing is not necessary, however, to entertain frivolous objections to coconspirator declarations. A full-blown hearing should be conducted where the quantum of the hearsay to be admitted is substantial and the risk of prejudice is severe.
Sometimes prosecutors offer the coconspirator’s declarations into evidence before establishing the conditions precedent to admissibility in order to present their case in an orderly and understandable fashion to the jury. These offers are accompanied by a representation that the necessary proofs will be furnished subsequently. When a trial court accedes to this request but the prosecutor fails to satisfy the conditions, the trial court generally should grant a mistrial upon the defendant’s motion, see United States v. James, supra, 590 F.2d at 581-83, unless the trial court is convinced that the error is harmless. In that event the trial court should give a cautionary instruction to the jury, unless the defendant objects to such an instruction. It should be noted that if a mistrial has been granted because of the prosecutor’s misconduct, double jeopardy may prevent a retrial of the defendant. See State v. Rechtschaffer, 70 N.J. 395, 406 (1976) (“It is well settled that if prosecutorial misbehavior or-manipulation causes the mistrial, the defendant should not be subjected to the harassment of a second trial.”).
VI
In applying these principles to this case, we find that there was substantial evidence of a conspiracy and of defendant’s participation in that conspiracy in addition to and independent of the coconspirator’s declarations.
A. Statements by “Bill from Bach’s”
The most damaging coconspirator hearsay statements admitted against defendant were the wiretapped conversations be*521tween Gerrizzo and William Gotshall, also known as “Bill from Bach’s.” The trial court record clearly demonstrates by a preponderance of the evidence, both independent of and including the hearsay itself, that a common plan to conduct illegal gambling existed when the telephone conversations were intercepted; that defendant, John Phelps, was then a member of that conspiracy; and that the “Bill from Bach’s” conversations were uttered in furtherance of that common plan.
There can be no doubt that a large-scale bookmaking enterprise was in progress contemporaneously with the Gerrizzo-Gotshall telephone conversations. The betting records confiscated in the residences of Gerrizzo and DeMarco complemented each other. Thus, portions of the individual betting records seized from Gerrizzo setting forth the names of the bettors, the amount bet, the football game, and the team selected corresponded with information listed on sheets of paper seized in DeMarco’s apartment. In addition, the pattern of incoming telephone calls to Gerrizzo’s apartment and the discussions between DeMarco and Gerrizzo clearly established that a gambling conspiracy was being operated at all times during the conversations. The defendant does not dispute this.
The record repeatedly discloses that Phelps and Gotshall (i.e., “J.P.” and “Bill from Bach’s”) had an agreement to place bets for one another under the same illegal account. Bill made no less than twenty-seven calls to Gerrizzo discussing his shared gambling account with “J.P.” The identity of “J.P.” was convincingly proven both by the call in which defendant was mentioned by his full name, by Inspector Romano’s identification of the voice of “J.P.” as defendant’s, and by a comparison of the known sample of defendant’s voice with the voice on the “J.P.” composite. In several of the seven conversations on the “J.P.” composite, “J.P.” alluded to “Bill” and inquired about wagers “Bill” had made on their joint account. He joked about “Bill’s” tendency to bet heavily when drunk. He ceased his own attempts to wager upon learning that “Bill” had already phoned in their joint bets. These admissions substantially *522corroborated the existence of the conspiracy and the defendant’s participation therein.
Taken as a whole, the “J.P.” tapes and the “Bill from Bach’s” tapes firmly corroborate that defendant and William Gotshall had a working relationship to maintain a shared gambling account with Gerrizzo and DeMarco.
Nor can there be any doubt that the intercepted “Bill from Bach’s” statements were made in furtherance of the common plan between Phelps and Gotshall. Defendant argued at trial that it is not a crime per se for an ordinary citizen to place a bet with a bookmaker. Defendant was not, however, an ordinary citizen, but a police officer sworn to uphold the laws of this State. By placing bets jointly with Gotshall, defendant furthered a known illegal bookmaking operation. Defendant’s own financial participation in that enterprise diminished their chances of detection by law enforcement authorities. By using Gotshall as an agent to place most of his own bets and to arrange the transfer of monies to and from the bookmakers, defendant minimized the chances of his own exposure. One might conceive of a conspiratorial chain of activities here: the Gotshall conversations were in furtherance of Phelps’s agreement with Gotshall, which, in turn, furthered the overall gambling conspiracy among defendant and the bookmakers.
Defendant contends that his acquittal on the counts charging him with conspiracy to promote gambling, to maintain a gambling resort, or to commit official misconduct demonstrate his lack of involvement in any such “common plan.” This contention misses the mark in that criminal acquittal of the conspiracy for which defendant was indicted does not logically or legally preclude a finding that the relevant evidence was admissible. The burden of proof with respect to admissibility of such evidence is a preponderance of the evidence as contrasted with the burden of proof with respect to a conviction, that is, beyond a reasonable doubt. Further, as previously observed, a cocon*523spirator’s statement may be relevant on matters other than the issue of conspiracy.
B. Statements by Gerrizzo and DeMarco
The analysis with respect to the “Bill from Bach’s” tapes is equally applicable to the Gerrizzo-DeMarco tapes. Ample incriminating evidence was offered at trial to substantiate the existence of a bookmaking racket operated by Gerrizzo and DeMarco. Defendant’s participation in that scheme as a. regular bettor is also beyond dispute. Defendant’s Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association card was even seized from DeMarco’s wallet at the time of DeMarco’s arrest.
Perhaps the strongest evidence that defendant was a member of the DeMarco-Gerrizzo conspiracy to promote gambling was his introduction of a new bettor, “Big Pete,” into the operation. The record further reveals that “Big Pete” subsequently did place wagers with Gerrizzo after receiving defendant’s authorization.
The Gerrizzo-DeMarco conversations were also in furtherance of the common scheme. Gerrizzo reported to DeMarco, his boss, the status of the gambling “action” of the previous day, discussing wagers placed %nd amounts owed to and from various bettors, including defendant. DeMarco gave Gerrizzo future instructions, including his approval of credit for defendant’s new wagerer, “Big Pete.” Such dialogue was no doubt typical of the overall venture, perhaps even essential to its success.
YII
The coconspirator’s hearsay exception under Evid.R. 63(9) was properly applied, both to the declarations by William Got-shall and those by Thomas DeMarco and Angelo Gerrizzo. The evidence overwhelmingly indicates a common plan to promote gambling — a plan that defendant furthered as an active wagerer, as a solicitor of a new gambler, and as a law enforcement *524officer assigned to ferret out and prevent crime in the area. The telephone conversations occurred during and in furtherance of the conspiracy. The existence of that common scheme and defendant’s membership therein were properly decided by the trial court alone on the basis of a preponderance of independent evidence corroborated by the hearsay declarations themselves.
The judgment of conviction is affirmed.
The amount of the bettor’s wages was expressed as a number followed by the word “times." In the gambler’s vernacular, one "time” represents $5.00. One hundred "times” would therefore represent $500.00.
The Model Code of Evidence (1942) would have permitted admission of statements that were merely "relevant to” the conspiracy. Our Supreme Court Committee on Evidence rejected this position and recommended that the statement must have been made during the existence of and in furtherance of the illegal plan. See Report of New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Evidence 167 (1963); Report of the Commission to Study the Improvement of the Law of Evidence 58 (1956).
The dissent argues that this State has allowed "nothing to come between the jury and the discharge of [its fact finding] function." Post at 534. This is untrue. The courts have always had the obligation of preventing a jury, at least on objection, from hearing inadmissible evidence. The dissent overlooks the fundamental notion that the jury is entitled to hear and to make its judgment on the basis of admissible evidence. Such an entitlement does not and should not apply to inadmissible evidence, evidence that has been deemed to be unreliable. The trial court’s decision concerning whether evidence is admissible does not decide the guilt or innocence of the defendant. That is the jury’s task. Further, if the trial court’s decision is that the evidence is inadmissible, then the jury should not be influenced in any way by that evidence. Nor should it decide guilt or innocence based on that inadmissible evidence.