Termination Of Parental Rights

Deciphering the Three Levels of Proof Standards in Oregon Legal Cases

This text explains the different standards of proof in Oregon law. The lowest standard is "preponderance of the evidence" which is used in most civil cases. The middle standard is "clear and convincing evidence" which requires more evidence than the previous one and is often used in cases involving serious consequences. The highest standard is "beyond a reasonable doubt" which is used in criminal cases and requires the prosecution to prove its case to such a degree that there can be no reasonable doubt in the mind of a rational person.