| Abstract: | Rudiments of criminal law are found in the first few records of law, which date back well before the start of our counting. At that time, mostly primitive rules were in use, such as "a tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye". Through the development of humanity, these rules were becoming more and more concrete and specifically regulating criminal law. Over time, it was somehow believed, that civilization, which was now more developed and had more orderly legal system, also tend to protect the rights of individuals from repression of the country. People have fought for their rights through resistances and revolutions during the history.
Consequently, they started to writing down rules and providing protection for all, not just for the wealthier classes.
One of the most important steps forward in the areas of criminal procedural law was the introduction of the principle of presumption of innocence. With this, individual is guaranteed one of the fundamental rights that currently comprise almost all criminal legal systems worldwide.
Thus, we almost cannot talk about democratic developed country, if their system does not include the principle of presumption of innocence.
In general, this is important principle, assuring everyone is assumed innocent until the guilt is proven, beyond a reasonable doubt. In legal acts themselves, this principle appears in various forms. |
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