Which standard must be met to prove that the defendant is guilty in criminal cases? quizlet

Beyond a reasonable doubt is the legal burden of proof required to affirm a conviction in a criminal case. In a criminal case, the prosecution bears the burden of proving that the defendant is guilty beyond all reasonable doubt. This means that the prosecution must convince the jury that there is no other reasonable explanation that can come from the evidence presented at trial. In other words, the jury must be virtually certain of the defendant’s guilt in order to render a guilty verdict. This standard of proof is much higher than the civil standard, called “preponderance of the evidence,” which only requires a certainty greater than 50 percent.

Related Terms:

• Preponderance of the evidence
• Burden of proof

Further Reading:

For an article detailing the origins of this standard, download this University of Chicago Law Review article.

For Supreme Court cases related to this legal standard, see Patterson v. New York and Mullaney v. Wilbur.

[Last updated in May of 2020 by the Wex Definitions Team]

Generally, burden of proof describes the standard that a party seeking to prove a fact in court must satisfy to have that fact legally established. There are different standards for different circumstances. 

For example, in criminal cases, the burden of proving the defendant’s guilt is on the prosecution, and they must establish that fact beyond a reasonable doubt. 

In civil cases, the plaintiff has the burden of proving their case by a preponderance of the evidence, which means the plaintiff merely needs to show that the fact in dispute is more likely than not. A "preponderance of the evidence" and "beyond a reasonable doubt" are different standards, requiring different amounts of proof.

The burden of proof is often said to consist of two distinct but related concepts: the burden of production, and the burden of persuasion.

Depending on the jurisdiction and type of action, the legal standard to satisfy the burden of proof in U.S. litigation may include, but is not limited to:

• beyond a reasonable doubt in criminal law.
• clear and convincing evidence in fraud in will disputes.
• preponderance of the evidence in most civil cases. 
• probable cause in the acquisition of a warrant or arrest proceeding.
• reasonable belief as part of establishing probable cause. 
• reasonable suspicion in cases involving police stop and searches. 
• some credible evidence in cases necessitating immediate intervention, like child protective services disputes. 
• some evidence in cases involving inmate discipline. 
• substantial evidence in many appellate cases. 

[Last updated in June of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]

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What is the measurement standard used to determine guilt or innocence in the civil courts?

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What are the things needed to established in order to prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt?