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What is a reason based on known facts to think that a criminal offense has occurred?

A. Reasonable doubt
B. Suspicion
C. Probable cause
D. Stare decisis
E. None of these

Answer :

Final answer:

The best answer to the question is 'probable cause,' which indicates a reasonable belief based on known facts that a crime has occurred. This differs from 'suspicion' and 'reasonable doubt,' which represent different legal standards. Understanding these terms is essential in criminal law context.


Explanation:

Understanding Legal Standards in Criminal Law

In the context of criminal law, the term that best fits the definition provided in the question is probable cause. Probable cause refers to a reasonable belief, based on known facts, that a criminal offense has occurred or is about to occur. This standard is crucial for law enforcement, particularly when obtaining warrants or conducting searches.

On the other hand, suspicion and reasonable doubt are also terms used in criminal justice but signify different levels of certainty:

  • Reasonable doubt is the standard of proof required to convict a defendant at trial, indicating that if there is any reasonable uncertainty about the defendant's guilt, they should be acquitted.
  • Suspicion is a lower threshold than probable cause and requires only a belief that something might be wrong, which is not sufficient for arrests or searches.

For instance, in the case of Terry v. Ohio (1968), the Supreme Court established that police can perform a stop-and-frisk based on reasonable suspicion, but to obtain a search warrant, they must demonstrate probable cause.

Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question about the reason based on known facts to think that a criminal offense has occurred is probable cause (option c).


Learn more about Legal Standards here:

https://brainly.com/question/33269683


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