In re Winship
United States Supreme Court
397 U.S. 358 (1970)
Relevant factsFree
Samuel Winship (defendant), a juvenile, was adjudicated delinquent under a mere preponderance-of-the-evidence standard for conduct that would have been larceny if committed by an adult, and was committed to a training school for up to 18 months. New York's appellate courts affirmed, and Winship appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing due process required proof beyond a reasonable doubt even in juvenile proceedings.
IssueFree
Whether the Due Process Clause requires the prosecution to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a juvenile committed a criminal offense before the juvenile can be adjudicated delinquent.