More than 40% of the population of New York State lives on Long Island, making it the most heavily populated island in the entire country and one of the most densely populated ones on the planet. If you’re a Long Island resident who is arrested for a crime, you’ll likely here plenty of different terms following your arrest and leading up to your trial. At the Law Offices of Naiburg, Obedin, and Weissman, we think that one of the most important things to understand is reasonable doubt.
Under the US criminal justice system, everyone who is charged with a crime is to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. This means that a judge or jury must assume that the person is innocent unless the prosecution is able to prove that they are actually guilty of the crime. The burden of proof lies with the accuser. This is why a defense attorney’s main job is to defend the person against the charges – they’re trying to show that there is reasonable doubt.
Reasonable doubt is just what it sounds like. If there is reason to doubt that a person is guilty, the court must find that they are not guilty of the crime. The prosecutor has to prove each aspect of their case and show without question that the accused is guilty.
So what does this mean to you? It depends largely on the nature of your crime. For example, with a DWI charge, it must be proven that the defendant was operating a motor vehicle at the time of the charge and that they were indeed intoxicated. With a drug possession charge, it must be proven that the defendant knowingly and willingly possessed illegal drugs, and that they were in possession of those drugs at the time of their charges.
It sounds confusing, and it can be. However, at its core it’s not that difficult of a thing to understand and is the cornerstone of our judicial system. If you’re charged with a crime, the first step you should take is to contact a criminal defense attorney who will work hard to defend you and prove that reasonable doubt exists. How this is done will depend upon the case and the specifics of it, and the attorney you talk to will help you figure out just what options you have.
Understanding reasonable doubt is important for anyone accused of a crime, and if you’re facing criminal charges it’s a good idea to review the information above to its fullest.