Beyond a Reasonable Doubt


Definition of Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

Beyond a reasonable doubt refers to the standard of evidentiary proof that is required to acquire a guilty verdict for a suspect in a criminal case. In the United States, the beyond-a-reasonable-doubt standard is the highest of all the standards required by the legal system.



Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Explained

Trying to explain to juries what "beyond a reasonable doubt" means has proved to be difficult for judges and attorneys over the years. The standard is often explained as such: the prosecution must prove, in all circumstances of the case, that no other logical scenario could have possibly happened. If a jury member has any reasonable doubt about whether the defendant committed the crime, that juror must find the defendant not guilty.





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