What describes the necessary legal standard to convict someone in most criminal cases?

In most criminal cases, the necessary legal standard to secure a conviction is "beyond a reasonable doubt." This standard requires that the evidence presented by the prosecution must be so convincing that there is no reasonable uncertainty in the mind of a juror regarding the defendant's guilt. It is the highest standard of proof used in the legal system, emphasizing the principle that it is better for a guilty person to go free than for an innocent person to be wrongfully convicted. This standard reflects the serious consequences associated with a criminal conviction, including potential loss of liberty and stigma.

The other standards listed serve different purposes in various contexts. "Preponderance of evidence" is typically used in civil cases, requiring that one party's evidence be more convincing than the other’s. "Probable cause" is a lower standard used primarily for obtaining search warrants or making arrests, indicating that there is a reasonable basis to believe a crime has been committed. "Clear and convincing evidence" is even higher than "preponderance of evidence" but lower than "beyond a reasonable doubt," often utilized in specific civil cases or situations involving certain claims of mental capacity or fraud.