Do all crimes need to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt?
Yes. In criminal cases, the prosecution must convince the judge or jury that the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. To compare, in civil cases, the standard of proof is generally a preponderance of the evidence, which basically means more likely than not. Reasonable doubt, on the other hand, is a much tougher standard to prove. Beyond a reasonable doubt requires the judge or jury to resolve all doubts about the evidence in the light most favorable to the defendant. Because the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt is exclusively on the prosecution, defense attorneys often focus their case on an assertion that the prosecution has not met this stringent burden.
