But it isn't. If we presumed everyone was innocent, we'd never even bring them to trial. What that term means is that in a court of law, the prosecution has the burden of proof. That's all...

"According to the U.S. Supreme Court, the presumption of the innocence of a criminal defendant is best described as an assumption of innocence that is indulged in the absence of contrary evidence (Taylor v. Kentucky, 436 U.S. 478, 98 S. Ct. 1930, 56 L. Ed. 2d 468 [1978]). It is not considered evidence of the defendant’s innocence, (emphasis mine) and it does not require that a mandatory inference favorable to the defendant be drawn from any facts in evidence."

You are absolutely correct that the term allegation casts doubt in a way that no other person accused of a crime gets. Victims of sexual violence should be treated the same way as other people reporting a crime. Thanks for such a well said and important piece.