What standard does the burden of proof require in criminal cases in Georgia?

In criminal cases in Georgia, the standard of proof required is "beyond a reasonable doubt." This is the highest standard of proof used in the legal system and is designed to ensure that there is a high level of certainty about the defendant's guilt before a conviction can be obtained. The rationale behind this stringent standard is to protect the rights of the accused, given the serious nature of criminal charges and the potential consequences, including imprisonment or worse.

This standard requires the prosecution to present evidence that leaves no reasonable doubt in the mind of a juror regarding the defendant's guilt. It reflects the philosophical underpinning of the criminal justice system, which operates on the principle that it is better for guilty individuals to go free than for an innocent person to be wrongly convicted.

In contrast, the other standards, such as “clear and convincing evidence” or “preponderance of the evidence,” are lower thresholds used primarily in civil cases and other types of proceedings. "More likely than not" is also a civil standard indicating that something is more than 50% likely to be true, which is insufficient in a criminal context due to the implications of a criminal conviction. Therefore, the requirement of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt stands out as the essential protective measure for