Burden of proof refers to the amount of evidence or proof required to adequately prove disputed facts in a court of law, and which party has the obligation to prove the disputed facts in order to prevail in court. In criminal prosecutions (cases) the government or prosecution has the burden to prove the accused defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This has been the standard for criminal prosecutions in the United States since at least 1880 when it was first mentioned by the U.S. Supreme Court. The determination of whether there is reasonable doubt as to an accused defendant’s guilt may be characterized by the question of whether there is an alternative explanation of the facts that seems plausible to the jurors.

In New York, as in all states across the United States, the burden of proof in criminal prosecutions lies with the government or prosecution. This means that it is the responsibility of the prosecution to prove the defendant's guilt 'beyond a reasonable doubt.' This standard is the highest in the American legal system and requires the prosecution to present evidence that leaves no reasonable doubt in the mind of a reasonable person about the defendant's guilt. If the jury—or judge in a bench trial—finds that there is a plausible alternative explanation of the facts that could suggest the defendant's innocence, then they are obliged to acquit. The 'beyond a reasonable doubt' standard has been a cornerstone of the U.S. criminal justice system since it was articulated by the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1880s and continues to be a fundamental principle in protecting the rights of the accused in New York and throughout the country.