Standard of Proof

Standard of Proof Legal Definition

There are three standards of proof:
In criminal cases, the offense must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
In civil cases, a mere preponderance of the evidence.(more likely than not).
In some civil cases, and in juvenile proceedings such as a permanent end of parental rights, an in between standard applies : proof by clear and convincing evidence.
(None of these applies to the IRS.)

Standard of proof in Law Enforcement

Main Entry: Law Enforcement in the Legal Dictionary. This section provides, in the context of Law Enforcement, a partial definition of standard of proof.

Resources

See Also

• Law Enforcement Officer
• Police
• Law Enforcement Agency

Further Reading

• standard of proof in A Dictionary of Law Enforcement (Oxford University Press)
• standard of proof in the Encyclopedia of Law Enforcement
• A Treatise on the Police of the Metropolis

Definition of Standard of Proof

The level of proof required in a case, established by assessing the associated evidence. In civil matters this is the balance of probabilities, in criminal matters this is beyond reasonable doubt.