Doubts about Reasonable Doubt?

From movies and TV shows, nearly every person has heard the term “reasonable doubt”. But what is reasonable doubt? It may be easy to think you know what reasonable doubt is but it’s vital to know exactly what it means in case you have to rely on it one day. Under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, a criminal case must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt in order to convict a person of a crime. As everyone is innocent until proven guilty, a judge or jury must present irrefutable evidence that the defendant is guilty. If there are any unanswered questions, the defendant cannot be convicted.

How do you establish reasonable doubt? Having a valid alibi, alternate theories of a crime, or showing faults in evidence are ways to create doubt. The goal is to produce questions in the jury’s minds as to whether you could have committed the crime. A case requires a high standard of proof before you can be convicted. Nobody deserves to be accused of a crime just because the police think you did it.

The goal of a defense attorney is to create doubt and show that there are holes in the prosecution’s story. You cannot sit and watch the prosecution prove that you are guilty. You must be proactive and point out flaws. The attorneys of DiCaudo, Pitchford & Yoder are experienced in creating reasonable doubt. Call us today to set up an in-person consultation about your case.