What standard must be met for conviction in a criminal trial?

In a criminal trial, the standard that must be met for conviction is "beyond reasonable doubt." This is the highest standard of proof used in the legal system and requires that the prosecution presents evidence that leaves the jury with a firm belief or conviction about the defendant's guilt. The rationale behind this standard is rooted in the principle that it is better for a guilty person to go free than for an innocent person to be wrongly convicted. As a result, jurors must be convinced to a high degree of certainty that the defendant committed the crime in question, making it fundamental to the fairness and integrity of the criminal justice process.

Other standards of proof, such as "preponderance of evidence," are used in civil cases, which require that the evidence shows that something is more likely true than not. "Clear and convincing evidence" is a higher standard than preponderance but still lower than beyond reasonable doubt, often used in specific civil cases like termination of parental rights. "Probable cause" is used in the context of law enforcement when determining whether to make an arrest or conduct a search, and it signifies that there is a reasonable basis for believing that a crime may have been committed, but it does not meet the threshold required for criminal conviction.