Civil cases usually involve disputes between individuals or organizations, while criminal cases allege a violation of criminal law. The information provided constitutes a civil or criminal case. Criminal and civil court judges have different powers. Criminal Court judges can punish you for breaking the law by sending you to jail.
Civil court judges can order you to pay money or a fine, or to make decisions about your family or home. Criminal courts and civil courts have different rules. In criminal court, the accused is acquitted or found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. It is the responsibility of the state or federal government to prove that the defendant undoubtedly committed the crime.
Both civil and criminal cases consider violations of people's rights and who is at fault. However, they differ in structure, burden of proof and penalties. In a criminal case, the state (an attorney called a prosecutor or district attorney) brings the case to court. The state claims that the defendant broke a law, such as laws against robbery or murder, and asks the court to sentence him to prison, probation, a fine, or some other punishment.
This is what a plaintiff in a civil case and the state in a criminal case must prove before a judge or jury. As in the example of assault and battery above, criminal charges are punishable by fines, prison sentences, and other penalties, while the lawsuit focuses on recovering money to compensate the victim (or the victim's family) for damages. A civil case begins when a person or entity (such as a corporation or the government), called the plaintiff, asserts that another person or entity (the defendant) has failed to comply with a legal obligation owed to the plaintiff. Individuals, businesses, and the federal government can also file civil lawsuits in federal court for violations of federal laws or constitutional rights.
Civil laws apply when a person's rights have been violated or when people have disputes with other people or organizations. Civil law refers to almost all other disputes, these are the rules that apply when a person sues another person, a company or agency. In civil court, a person sues (files a case) against another person because of a dispute or problem between them. Citizen, ask your public defender or legal aid lawyer to consult with a qualified immigration lawyer about how a settlement with the prosecution in your criminal case may affect your immigration status.
If you are planning to pursue a degree in Justice Studies, you may be interested in focusing on a career in criminal or civil law. Since there is much more at stake for a defendant in a criminal case than between two parties in a civil case, the judicial system also includes safeguards to protect the rights of the accused. To obtain a conviction in a criminal case, the state must convince a judge or jury that the defendant is guilty of a crime “beyond a reasonable doubt.” At Grand Canyon University, you can explore civil and criminal law by enrolling in the Bachelor of Science in Justice program. Criminal cases involve an action that is considered harmful to society as a whole (therefore, they are considered crimes against the state or the jurisdiction of the prosecution).
Criminal laws at the local, state, and federal levels define criminal activities and establish legal punishments for people convicted of crimes such as arson, battery, and robbery. In a civil case, the jury can order the defendant to be held responsible for a wrongful act that pays compensation for damages (financial compensation) to the plaintiff.
