Burden of proof (law)

Burden of proof is like a rule for a game. It says who has to prove something in a court. When something is put in front of a court, the person making that claim needs to be able to prove it by showing enough evidence to make the judge or jury think it is true. The person making the claim needs to prove it to a higher standard, called the ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ standard. This means the judge or jury have to be almost certain that it is true. The burden of proof usually sits with the person who is making the claim. In a criminal court, it is the job of the police and the prosecutor to prove that the person on trial is guilty.