When you are charged with a crime in the United States, it is presumed that you are innocent of the crime until it is proven otherwise. Under the law, for someone to be convicted of a crime, the prosecution must prove that the person is guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt”. This standard of proof is very high and that is intentional. There is a significant amount at stake in a criminal charge and the evidence and the case must be strong and compelling. During a trial, the individual who is charged -- the defendant -- may present a legal defense that is intended to raise reasonable doubt. In raising reasonable doubt about the evidence, the defense has diminished the strength of the prosecution’s case.