Reasonable Doubt - Revision history

Durankar: /* Background */

2010-12-07T11:07:44Z

Background

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:07, 7 December 2010
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	A burden of proof is the obligation to shift an accepted conclusion from an opposite opinion to one’s own position. In a criminal law setting, the burden of proof is most often placed upon the prosecution to demonstrate an accused person’s guilt, overcoming an assumption that the accused person is innocent until proven guilty. In many adversarial systems, the prosecution must shift this burden ‘beyond a reasonable doubt,’ meaning that the prosecution must prove its case so that there is no reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty.		A burden of proof is the obligation to shift an accepted conclusion from an opposite opinion to one’s own position. In a criminal law setting, the burden of proof is most often placed upon the prosecution to demonstrate an accused person’s guilt, overcoming an assumption that the accused person is innocent until proven guilty. In many adversarial systems, the prosecution must shift this burden ‘beyond a reasonable doubt,’ meaning that the prosecution must prove its case so that there is no reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty.

	The reasonable doubt standard is not one of absolute certainty and convictions can result even in light of lingering concerns that the defendant may not be guilty. In a recent study that quantified a numerical value for the reasonable doubt legal standard, the standard appeared to fall somewhere in the 0.70 to 0.74 range – roughly equating a 70% likelihood of guilt to proof beyond a reasonable doubt. <ref> Katie Evans, et. al, Distributions of Interest for Quantifying Reasonable Doubt and Their Applications, Valparaiso Experience for Research by Undergraduates in Mathematics (2006), available at http://www.valpo.edu/mcs/pdf/ReasonableDoubtFinal.pdf</ref>.		The reasonable doubt standard is not one of absolute certainty and convictions can result even in light of lingering concerns that the defendant may not be guilty. In a recent study that quantified a numerical value for the reasonable doubt legal standard, the standard appeared to fall somewhere in the 0.70 to 0.74 range – roughly equating a 70% likelihood of guilt to proof beyond a reasonable doubt. <ref> Katie Evans, et. al, Distributions of Interest for Quantifying Reasonable Doubt and Their Applications, Valparaiso Experience for Research by Undergraduates in Mathematics (2006), available at http://www.valpo.edu/mcs/pdf/ReasonableDoubtFinal.pdf</ref>

	Beyond a reasonable doubt is the highest standard of proof that must be met at trial. Civil litigation often employs a preponderance of the evidence standard, which more simply means that one side has more evidence in its favor than the other, even in the smallest degree. Clear and convincing proof is a standard higher than preponderance of the evidence and lower than beyond a reasonable doubt that seeks proof by a high probability that a fact sought to be proved is true. The beyond a reasonable doubt standard is used in criminal causes because of the severe deprivation of liberty that results from penal sanctions or imprisonment. <ref> http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Beyond+a+Reason</ref>		Beyond a reasonable doubt is the highest standard of proof that must be met at trial. Civil litigation often employs a preponderance of the evidence standard, which more simply means that one side has more evidence in its favor than the other, even in the smallest degree. Clear and convincing proof is a standard higher than preponderance of the evidence and lower than beyond a reasonable doubt that seeks proof by a high probability that a fact sought to be proved is true. The beyond a reasonable doubt standard is used in criminal causes because of the severe deprivation of liberty that results from penal sanctions or imprisonment. <ref> http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Beyond+a+Reason</ref>



	= International Law =		= International Law =

Durankar: /* Specific Country Applications */

2010-12-07T11:05:28Z

Specific Country Applications

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:05, 7 December 2010
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	Beyond a reasonable doubt is the highest standard of proof that must be met at trial. Civil litigation often employs a preponderance of the evidence standard, which more simply means that one side has more evidence in its favor than the other, even in the smallest degree. Clear and convincing proof is a standard higher than preponderance of the evidence and lower than beyond a reasonable doubt that seeks proof by a high probability that a fact sought to be proved is true. The beyond a reasonable doubt standard is used in criminal causes because of the severe deprivation of liberty that results from penal sanctions or imprisonment. <ref> http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Beyond+a+Reason</ref>		Beyond a reasonable doubt is the highest standard of proof that must be met at trial. Civil litigation often employs a preponderance of the evidence standard, which more simply means that one side has more evidence in its favor than the other, even in the smallest degree. Clear and convincing proof is a standard higher than preponderance of the evidence and lower than beyond a reasonable doubt that seeks proof by a high probability that a fact sought to be proved is true. The beyond a reasonable doubt standard is used in criminal causes because of the severe deprivation of liberty that results from penal sanctions or imprisonment. <ref> http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Beyond+a+Reason</ref>

	~~= Specific Country Applications =~~

	== International Law ==
			= International Law =

	The [[Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court]] explicitly sets the criminal standard of proof as guilt proved beyond reasonable doubt. Article 66 provides:		The [[Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court]] explicitly sets the criminal standard of proof as guilt proved beyond reasonable doubt. Article 66 provides:

	1. Everyone shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty before the Court in accordance with the applicable law.		<blockquote>1. Everyone shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty before the Court in accordance with the applicable law.
	2. The onus is on the Prosecutor to prove the guilt of the accused.		2. The onus is on the Prosecutor to prove the guilt of the accused.
	3. In order to convict the accused, the Court must be convinced of the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt.<ref>Available at http://untreaty.un.org/cod/icc/statute/99_corr/cstatute.htm</ref>		3. In order to convict the accused, the Court must be convinced of the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt.<ref>Available at http://untreaty.un.org/cod/icc/statute/99_corr/cstatute.htm</ref></blockquote>

			= Specific Country Applications =

	== United States ==		== United States ==

	The beyond a reasonable doubt burden of proof is not expressly provided for by the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court held however in ''In re Winship'' that when a juvenile is charged with an act that would be a crime if committed by an adult, every element of the offense must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt in order to convict. This marked a shift in the landscape of U.S. law, moving to a higher burden of proof than the previously used preponderance of the evidence standard. The Court held that the beyond a reasonable doubt standard extended to the individual states as well as the federal system through the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment which guarantees each citizen’s right to fair treatment under the law.<ref>In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358 (1970), available at http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0397_0358_ZO.html</ref> If the prosecution fails to satisfy the beyond a reasonable doubt standard of proof, the defendant can either be acquitted by a jury vote or by directed verdict upon the motion of the defendant.<ref>http://www.lexisnexis.com/lawschool/study/outlines/html/crim/index_Full.asp</ref>		The beyond a reasonable doubt burden of proof is not expressly provided for by the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court held, however, in ''In re Winship'' that when a juvenile is charged with an act that would be a crime if committed by an adult, every element of the offense must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt in order to convict. This marked a shift in the landscape of U.S. law, moving to a higher burden of proof than the previously used preponderance of the evidence standard. The Court held that the beyond a reasonable doubt standard extended to the individual states as well as the federal system through the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment which guarantees each citizen’s right to fair treatment under the law.<ref>In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358 (1970), available at http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0397_0358_ZO.html</ref> If the prosecution fails to satisfy the beyond a reasonable doubt standard of proof, the defendant can either be acquitted by a jury vote or by directed verdict upon the motion of the defendant.<ref>http://www.lexisnexis.com/lawschool/study/outlines/html/crim/index_Full.asp</ref>

	The burden of proof standard in ''In re Winship'' is now interpreted to extend the beyond a reasonable doubt standard to all criminal defendants, not only juveniles. Except for statutorily provided for defenses, which can have their own burdens of proof, the Model Penal Code also requires the prosecution to prove every element of an offense beyond a reasonable doubt. <ref>Model Penal Code § 1.12(1), available at http://www.duke.edu/~mvn2/gillis/Crim%20Law/%5BCrim%20Law%5D%20Model%20Penal%20Code.doc</ref>		The burden of proof standard in ''In re Winship'' is now interpreted to extend the beyond a reasonable doubt standard to all criminal defendants, not only juveniles. Except for statutorily provided for defenses, which can have their own burdens of proof, the Model Penal Code also requires the prosecution to prove every element of an offense beyond a reasonable doubt. <ref>Model Penal Code § 1.12(1), available at http://www.duke.edu/~mvn2/gillis/Crim%20Law/%5BCrim%20Law%5D%20Model%20Penal%20Code.doc</ref>

Ibjadmin: /* Background */

2010-11-22T13:51:07Z

Background

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:51, 22 November 2010
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	= Background =		= Background =

	Reasonable Doubt is a measure of the burden of proof required to convict an accused person of a crime common to many current criminal law jurisdictions.		Reasonable Doubt is a measure of the [[Standards of Proof\|burden of proof]] required to convict an accused person of a crime common to many current criminal law jurisdictions.

	A burden of proof is the obligation to shift an accepted conclusion from an opposite opinion to one’s own position. In a criminal law setting, the burden of proof is most often placed upon the prosecution to demonstrate an accused person’s guilt, overcoming an assumption that the accused person is innocent until proven guilty. In many adversarial systems, the prosecution must shift this burden ‘beyond a reasonable doubt,’ meaning that the prosecution must prove its case so that there is no reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty.		A burden of proof is the obligation to shift an accepted conclusion from an opposite opinion to one’s own position. In a criminal law setting, the burden of proof is most often placed upon the prosecution to demonstrate an accused person’s guilt, overcoming an assumption that the accused person is innocent until proven guilty. In many adversarial systems, the prosecution must shift this burden ‘beyond a reasonable doubt,’ meaning that the prosecution must prove its case so that there is no reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty.
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	Beyond a reasonable doubt is the highest standard of proof that must be met at trial. Civil litigation often employs a preponderance of the evidence standard, which more simply means that one side has more evidence in its favor than the other, even in the smallest degree. Clear and convincing proof is a standard higher than preponderance of the evidence and lower than beyond a reasonable doubt that seeks proof by a high probability that a fact sought to be proved is true. The beyond a reasonable doubt standard is used in criminal causes because of the severe deprivation of liberty that results from penal sanctions or imprisonment. <ref> http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Beyond+a+Reason</ref>		Beyond a reasonable doubt is the highest standard of proof that must be met at trial. Civil litigation often employs a preponderance of the evidence standard, which more simply means that one side has more evidence in its favor than the other, even in the smallest degree. Clear and convincing proof is a standard higher than preponderance of the evidence and lower than beyond a reasonable doubt that seeks proof by a high probability that a fact sought to be proved is true. The beyond a reasonable doubt standard is used in criminal causes because of the severe deprivation of liberty that results from penal sanctions or imprisonment. <ref> http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Beyond+a+Reason</ref>

	= Specific Country Applications =		= Specific Country Applications =

Ibjadmin: /* United States */

2010-11-22T13:50:08Z

United States

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:50, 22 November 2010
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	The burden of proof standard in ''In re Winship'' is now interpreted to extend the beyond a reasonable doubt standard to all criminal defendants, not only juveniles. Except for statutorily provided for defenses, which can have their own burdens of proof, the Model Penal Code also requires the prosecution to prove every element of an offense beyond a reasonable doubt. <ref>Model Penal Code § 1.12(1), available at http://www.duke.edu/~mvn2/gillis/Crim%20Law/%5BCrim%20Law%5D%20Model%20Penal%20Code.doc</ref>		The burden of proof standard in ''In re Winship'' is now interpreted to extend the beyond a reasonable doubt standard to all criminal defendants, not only juveniles. Except for statutorily provided for defenses, which can have their own burdens of proof, the Model Penal Code also requires the prosecution to prove every element of an offense beyond a reasonable doubt. <ref>Model Penal Code § 1.12(1), available at http://www.duke.edu/~mvn2/gillis/Crim%20Law/%5BCrim%20Law%5D%20Model%20Penal%20Code.doc</ref>
			----
			See [[Defenses]]

	= Notes =		= Notes =

	<references/>		<references/>

Eric.n.feldman: /* United States */

2010-11-22T12:31:03Z

United States

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:31, 22 November 2010
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	== United States ==		== United States ==

	The beyond a reasonable doubt burden of proof is not expressly provided for by the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court held however in ~~‘’’In~~ re ~~Winship’’’~~ that when a juvenile is charged with an act that would be a crime if committed by an adult, every element of the offense must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt in order to convict. This marked a shift in the landscape of U.S. law, moving to a higher burden of proof than the previously used preponderance of the evidence standard. The Court held that the beyond a reasonable doubt standard extended to the individual states as well as the federal system through the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment which guarantees each citizen’s right to fair treatment under the law.<ref>In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358 (1970), available at http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0397_0358_ZO.html</ref> If the prosecution fails to satisfy the beyond a reasonable doubt standard of proof, the defendant can either be acquitted by a jury vote or by directed verdict upon the motion of the defendant.<ref>http://www.lexisnexis.com/lawschool/study/outlines/html/crim/index_Full.asp</ref>		The beyond a reasonable doubt burden of proof is not expressly provided for by the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court held however in ''In re Winship'' that when a juvenile is charged with an act that would be a crime if committed by an adult, every element of the offense must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt in order to convict. This marked a shift in the landscape of U.S. law, moving to a higher burden of proof than the previously used preponderance of the evidence standard. The Court held that the beyond a reasonable doubt standard extended to the individual states as well as the federal system through the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment which guarantees each citizen’s right to fair treatment under the law.<ref>In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358 (1970), available at http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0397_0358_ZO.html</ref> If the prosecution fails to satisfy the beyond a reasonable doubt standard of proof, the defendant can either be acquitted by a jury vote or by directed verdict upon the motion of the defendant.<ref>http://www.lexisnexis.com/lawschool/study/outlines/html/crim/index_Full.asp</ref>

	The burden of proof standard in ~~‘’’In~~ re ~~Winship’’’~~ is now interpreted to extend the beyond a reasonable doubt standard to all criminal defendants, not only juveniles. Except for statutorily provided for defenses, which can have their own burdens of proof, the Model Penal Code also requires the prosecution to prove every element of an offense beyond a reasonable doubt. <ref>Model Penal Code § 1.12(1), available at http://www.duke.edu/~mvn2/gillis/Crim%20Law/%5BCrim%20Law%5D%20Model%20Penal%20Code.doc</ref>		The burden of proof standard in ''In re Winship'' is now interpreted to extend the beyond a reasonable doubt standard to all criminal defendants, not only juveniles. Except for statutorily provided for defenses, which can have their own burdens of proof, the Model Penal Code also requires the prosecution to prove every element of an offense beyond a reasonable doubt. <ref>Model Penal Code § 1.12(1), available at http://www.duke.edu/~mvn2/gillis/Crim%20Law/%5BCrim%20Law%5D%20Model%20Penal%20Code.doc</ref>

	= Notes =		= Notes =

	<references/>		<references/>

Eric.n.feldman: /* United States */

2010-11-22T12:30:13Z

United States

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:30, 22 November 2010
Line 21:		Line 21:
	== United States ==		== United States ==

	The beyond a reasonable doubt burden of proof is not expressly provided for by the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court held however in ‘’’In re Winship’’’ that when a juvenile is charged with an act that would be a crime if committed by an adult, every element of the offense must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt in order to convict. This marked a shift in the landscape of U.S. law, moving to a higher burden of proof than the previously used preponderance of the evidence standard. The Court held that the beyond a reasonable doubt standard extended to the individual states as well as the federal system through the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment which guarantees each citizen’s right to fair treatment under the law.<ref>In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358 (1970), available at http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0397_0358_ZO.html</ref> If the prosecution fails to satisfy the beyond a reasonable doubt standard of proof, the defendant can either be acquitted by a jury vote or by directed verdict upon the motion of the defendant.<ref>http://www.lexisnexis.com/lawschool/study/outlines/html/crim/index_Full.asp<ref>		The beyond a reasonable doubt burden of proof is not expressly provided for by the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court held however in ‘’’In re Winship’’’ that when a juvenile is charged with an act that would be a crime if committed by an adult, every element of the offense must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt in order to convict. This marked a shift in the landscape of U.S. law, moving to a higher burden of proof than the previously used preponderance of the evidence standard. The Court held that the beyond a reasonable doubt standard extended to the individual states as well as the federal system through the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment which guarantees each citizen’s right to fair treatment under the law.<ref>In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358 (1970), available at http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0397_0358_ZO.html</ref> If the prosecution fails to satisfy the beyond a reasonable doubt standard of proof, the defendant can either be acquitted by a jury vote or by directed verdict upon the motion of the defendant.<ref>http://www.lexisnexis.com/lawschool/study/outlines/html/crim/index_Full.asp</ref>

	The burden of proof standard in ‘’’In re Winship’’’ is now interpreted to extend the beyond a reasonable doubt standard to all criminal defendants, not only juveniles. Except for statutorily provided for defenses, which can have their own burdens of proof, the Model Penal Code also requires the prosecution to prove every element of an offense beyond a reasonable doubt. <ref>Model Penal Code § 1.12(1), available at http://www.duke.edu/~mvn2/gillis/Crim%20Law/%5BCrim%20Law%5D%20Model%20Penal%20Code.doc</ref>		The burden of proof standard in ‘’’In re Winship’’’ is now interpreted to extend the beyond a reasonable doubt standard to all criminal defendants, not only juveniles. Except for statutorily provided for defenses, which can have their own burdens of proof, the Model Penal Code also requires the prosecution to prove every element of an offense beyond a reasonable doubt. <ref>Model Penal Code § 1.12(1), available at http://www.duke.edu/~mvn2/gillis/Crim%20Law/%5BCrim%20Law%5D%20Model%20Penal%20Code.doc</ref>

Eric.n.feldman: /* United States */

2010-11-22T12:29:34Z

United States

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:29, 22 November 2010
Line 23:		Line 23:
	The beyond a reasonable doubt burden of proof is not expressly provided for by the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court held however in ‘’’In re Winship’’’ that when a juvenile is charged with an act that would be a crime if committed by an adult, every element of the offense must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt in order to convict. This marked a shift in the landscape of U.S. law, moving to a higher burden of proof than the previously used preponderance of the evidence standard. The Court held that the beyond a reasonable doubt standard extended to the individual states as well as the federal system through the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment which guarantees each citizen’s right to fair treatment under the law.<ref>In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358 (1970), available at http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0397_0358_ZO.html</ref> If the prosecution fails to satisfy the beyond a reasonable doubt standard of proof, the defendant can either be acquitted by a jury vote or by directed verdict upon the motion of the defendant.<ref>http://www.lexisnexis.com/lawschool/study/outlines/html/crim/index_Full.asp<ref>		The beyond a reasonable doubt burden of proof is not expressly provided for by the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court held however in ‘’’In re Winship’’’ that when a juvenile is charged with an act that would be a crime if committed by an adult, every element of the offense must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt in order to convict. This marked a shift in the landscape of U.S. law, moving to a higher burden of proof than the previously used preponderance of the evidence standard. The Court held that the beyond a reasonable doubt standard extended to the individual states as well as the federal system through the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment which guarantees each citizen’s right to fair treatment under the law.<ref>In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358 (1970), available at http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0397_0358_ZO.html</ref> If the prosecution fails to satisfy the beyond a reasonable doubt standard of proof, the defendant can either be acquitted by a jury vote or by directed verdict upon the motion of the defendant.<ref>http://www.lexisnexis.com/lawschool/study/outlines/html/crim/index_Full.asp<ref>

	The burden of proof standard in ‘’’In re Winship’’’ is now interpreted to extend the beyond a reasonable doubt standard to all criminal defendants, not only juveniles. Except for statutorily provided for defenses, which can have their own burdens of proof, the Model Penal Code also requires the prosecution to prove every element of an offense beyond a reasonable doubt.<ref>Model Penal Code § 1.12(1), available at http://www.duke.edu/~mvn2/gillis/Crim%20Law/%5BCrim%20Law%5D%20Model%20Penal%20Code.doc</ref>		The burden of proof standard in ‘’’In re Winship’’’ is now interpreted to extend the beyond a reasonable doubt standard to all criminal defendants, not only juveniles. Except for statutorily provided for defenses, which can have their own burdens of proof, the Model Penal Code also requires the prosecution to prove every element of an offense beyond a reasonable doubt. <ref>Model Penal Code § 1.12(1), available at http://www.duke.edu/~mvn2/gillis/Crim%20Law/%5BCrim%20Law%5D%20Model%20Penal%20Code.doc</ref>

	= Notes =		= Notes =

	<references/>		<references/>

Eric.n.feldman: /* Reasonable Doubt */

2010-11-22T12:28:58Z

Reasonable Doubt

New page

= Background =

Reasonable Doubt is a measure of the burden of proof required to convict an accused person of a crime common to many current criminal law jurisdictions.

A burden of proof is the obligation to shift an accepted conclusion from an opposite opinion to one’s own position. In a criminal law setting, the burden of proof is most often placed upon the prosecution to demonstrate an accused person’s guilt, overcoming an assumption that the accused person is innocent until proven guilty. In many adversarial systems, the prosecution must shift this burden ‘beyond a reasonable doubt,’ meaning that the prosecution must prove its case so that there is no reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty.

The reasonable doubt standard is not one of absolute certainty and convictions can result even in light of lingering concerns that the defendant may not be guilty. In a recent study that quantified a numerical value for the reasonable doubt legal standard, the standard appeared to fall somewhere in the 0.70 to 0.74 range – roughly equating a 70% likelihood of guilt to proof beyond a reasonable doubt. <ref> Katie Evans, et. al, Distributions of Interest for Quantifying Reasonable Doubt and Their Applications, Valparaiso Experience for Research by Undergraduates in Mathematics (2006), available at http://www.valpo.edu/mcs/pdf/ReasonableDoubtFinal.pdf</ref>.

Beyond a reasonable doubt is the highest standard of proof that must be met at trial. Civil litigation often employs a preponderance of the evidence standard, which more simply means that one side has more evidence in its favor than the other, even in the smallest degree. Clear and convincing proof is a standard higher than preponderance of the evidence and lower than beyond a reasonable doubt that seeks proof by a high probability that a fact sought to be proved is true. The beyond a reasonable doubt standard is used in criminal causes because of the severe deprivation of liberty that results from penal sanctions or imprisonment. <ref> http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Beyond+a+Reason</ref>

= Specific Country Applications =

== International Law ==

The [[Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court]] explicitly sets the criminal standard of proof as guilt proved beyond reasonable doubt. Article 66 provides:

1. Everyone shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty before the Court in accordance with the applicable law.
2. The onus is on the Prosecutor to prove the guilt of the accused.
3. In order to convict the accused, the Court must be convinced of the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt.<ref>Available at http://untreaty.un.org/cod/icc/statute/99_corr/cstatute.htm</ref>

== United States ==

The beyond a reasonable doubt burden of proof is not expressly provided for by the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court held however in ‘’’In re Winship’’’ that when a juvenile is charged with an act that would be a crime if committed by an adult, every element of the offense must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt in order to convict. This marked a shift in the landscape of U.S. law, moving to a higher burden of proof than the previously used preponderance of the evidence standard. The Court held that the beyond a reasonable doubt standard extended to the individual states as well as the federal system through the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment which guarantees each citizen’s right to fair treatment under the law.<ref>In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358 (1970), available at http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0397_0358_ZO.html</ref> If the prosecution fails to satisfy the beyond a reasonable doubt standard of proof, the defendant can either be acquitted by a jury vote or by directed verdict upon the motion of the defendant.<ref>http://www.lexisnexis.com/lawschool/study/outlines/html/crim/index_Full.asp<ref>

The burden of proof standard in ‘’’In re Winship’’’ is now interpreted to extend the beyond a reasonable doubt standard to all criminal defendants, not only juveniles. Except for statutorily provided for defenses, which can have their own burdens of proof, the Model Penal Code also requires the prosecution to prove every element of an offense beyond a reasonable doubt.<ref>Model Penal Code § 1.12(1), available at http://www.duke.edu/~mvn2/gillis/Crim%20Law/%5BCrim%20Law%5D%20Model%20Penal%20Code.doc</ref>

= Notes =

<references/>