NALA Certified Paralegal Practice Exam

When determining guilt or innocence in a criminal case, the standard that must be met is 'beyond a reasonable doubt'. This means that the evidence presented must be strong enough to convince the jury or judge that the accused is guilty without any doubt in their mind. Option A, 'beyond a preponderance of the evidence' is the standard used in civil cases, where the burden of proof is less demanding. Option C, 'beyond the shadow of a doubt' is not a recognized legal standard. Lastly, option D, 'none of the above', is incorrect as the correct answer is B.