In a criminal case, the standard of evidence needed to find a defendant guilty is:

In a criminal case, the standard of evidence required to find a defendant guilty is "beyond a reasonable doubt." This standard reflects the high level of certainty needed to convict someone of a crime, recognizing the serious consequences of such a judgment, including loss of freedom or other significant penalties. It mandates that the evidence presented must leave the jury or judge firmly convinced of the defendant's guilt.

This principle is fundamental in the criminal justice system to ensure fairness, as it protects individuals against wrongful convictions. The high threshold of this standard is deliberate; it addresses the moral weight of penalizing someone for a crime, emphasising that it's better for multiple guilty parties to remain free than for an innocent person to be wrongly convicted.

In contrast, other standards of evidence, such as probable cause, suspicion, and preponderance of evidence, are applicable in different contexts. Probable cause is primarily used in the context of making arrests or obtaining search warrants, while preponderance of evidence is the standard used in civil cases where the balance of evidence must simply tip in favor of one side. Suspicion is an even lower standard and often pertains to initial investigative stages without the firm backing required for a conviction.