Presumption Of Innocence Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Presumption Of Innocence.

Presumption of Innocence (noun)

In the legal system, Presumption of Innocence is a principle that means a person is considered innocent until proven guilty. In other words, if someone is accused of a crime, they don't have to prove they're not guilty. Instead, it's up to the prosecution, (the lawyer for the victim), to prove to the court that the accused person is guilty. Until and unless the court is convinced by the evidence presented, the accused remains innocent. This places the burden of proof on the prosecution, not on the accused.