Uskyldighet

Uskyldighet is the state of not being guilty of a crime or offense. In everyday language it can also refer to a lack of culpability in a situation. The term is most often used in Norwegian law and discourse to describe a person who has not been proven to have committed wrongdoing, i bruk linked to the broader idea of innocence.

In the legal context, individuals accused of crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The burden of proof lies with the prosecution, which must establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. A verdict of not guilty means that the charges were not proven; it does not necessarily prove that the person is morally innocent. The presumption of innocence protects against wrongful conviction and guides how evidence is evaluated by police, prosecutors, and judges.

Uskyldighet is distinct from the concept of guilt (skyld) or responsibility. It refers to a legal status rather than a moral assessment, and it differs from civil liability where the standard of proof is lower (preponderance of evidence or balance of probabilities).

Etymology: the word comes from skyld, meaning guilt or debt, with the prefix u- meaning not. In ordinary language the term can also describe a general lack of suspicion or of being implicated in wrongdoing.

Across jurisdictions, similar ideas exist under the presumption of innocence as a human-rights principle, recognized in international law and in national constitutions and statutes, including Norway’s. The concept remains central to fair trial protections and to the distinction between legal guilt and moral culpability.