N.Y. Laws » CHAPTER Criminal Procedure / PART General Provisions / TITLE Rules of Evidence, Standards of Proof and Related Matters / ARTICLE Standards of Proof
New York Consolidated Laws

N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law § 70.10 (2026)

Standards of proof; definitions of terms

✓ current as of May 2026
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§ 70.10  Standards of proof; definitions of terms.
  The following definitions are applicable to this chapter:
  1.  "Legally sufficient evidence" means competent evidence which, if
accepted as true, would establish every element of an offense charged
and the defendant's commission thereof; except that such evidence is not
legally sufficient when corroboration required by law is absent.
  2.  "Reasonable cause to believe that a person has committed an
offense" exists when evidence or information which appears reliable
discloses facts or circumstances which are collectively of such weight
and persuasiveness as to convince a person of ordinary intelligence,
judgment and experience that it is reasonably likely that such offense
was committed and that such person committed it.  Except as otherwise
provided in this chapter, such apparently reliable evidence may include
or consist of hearsay.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2003–2025 · leading case: People v. Geraci, 2025 NY Slip Op 51885(U) (2025).
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People v. Geraci, 2025 NY Slip Op 51885(U) (2025). · cites it 2× “Criminal Procedure Law Section 70.10 (2) defines reasonable cause in pertinent part as follows: "'Reasonable cause to believe that a person has committed an offense' exists when evidence or information which appears reliable discloses facts or circumstances which are…”
People v. Calixto, 29 Misc. 3d 798 (N.Y. City Crim. Ct. 2010). “10 (2): “ ‘Reasonable cause to believe that a person has committed an offense’ exists when evidence or information which appears reliable discloses facts or circumstances which are collectively of such weight and persuasiveness as to convince a person of ordinary intelligence,…”
People v. Murray, 56 Misc. 3d 932 (N.Y. City Crim. Ct. 2017). “When analyzing whether the factual allegations of an information provide reasonable cause to believe that the defendant *934 committed the charged offense, it is important to keep in mind the definition of reasonable cause provided by the legislature in Criminal Procedure Law §…”
People v. Jones, 25 Misc. 3d 995 (N.Y. City Crim. Ct. 2009). “) When analyzing the factual allegations of an information, and whether or not those allegations provide reasonable cause to believe the defendant committed the charged offense, it is important to refer to the definition of reasonable cause that the *997 Legislature has provided…”
People v. Conway, 2003 NY Slip Op 51514 (2003). “Criminal Procedure Law Section 70.10(2) states in pertinent part as follows: "Reasonable cause to believe that a person has committed an offense" exists when evidence or information which appears reliable discloses facts or circumstances which [*3]are collectively of such weight…”
— N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law § 70.10(2) — 1 case
People v. Conway, 2003 NY Slip Op 51514 (2003). “Criminal Procedure Law Section 70.10(2) states in pertinent part as follows: "Reasonable cause to believe that a person has committed an offense" exists when evidence or information which appears reliable discloses facts or circumstances which [*3]are collectively of such weight…”
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