What standard of proof is required in criminal cases?

In criminal cases, the standard of proof required is "beyond a reasonable doubt." This is the highest standard of proof that exists in the legal system and reflects the seriousness of the potential consequences of a criminal conviction, which can include loss of liberty or even life in severe cases.

The rationale behind this standard is that the state has the burden to prove the defendant’s guilt to a degree that leaves the jurors firmly convinced of the defendant's guilt. This means that while there may be some doubts about the evidence presented, these doubts must be reasonable and cannot merely be speculative. The goal is to ensure that no individual is convicted of a crime unless there is a very high level of certainty among jurors regarding that individual's guilt.

This rigorous standard is designed to prevent wrongful convictions, upholding the principle that it is better for several guilty individuals to go free than for one innocent person to be unjustly punished. In contrast, the other standards mentioned are used in different contexts: "preponderance of evidence" is the standard used in most civil cases, "clear and convincing evidence" often applies in certain civil cases involving transformative decisions (like involuntary commitment), and "probable cause" is the standard necessary for law enforcement to make arrests or conduct