Civil vs. Criminal Law Flashcards
What is the primary purpose of civil law?
To resolve disputes and provide compensation for someone injured by someone else’s acts or behavior.
In a civil case, the party bringing the lawsuit is called the…
Plaintiff.
A person accused of a crime in a criminal case is called the…
Defendant.
In a criminal case, the burden of proof is…
The defendant must be found guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt,” which means the evidence must be so strong that there is no reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crime.
What is the typical outcome in a criminal case when the defendant is found guilty?
If the judge or jury finds you guilty of the crime you are charged with at trial, you will be sentenced by the judge. Your punishment will depend on the crime you have been convicted of committing and could include fines, jail or prison sentence, home electronic monitoring, and probation.
In a civil case, the goal is often to…
A plaintiff may seek money to compensate for the damages, or may ask the court to order the defendant to stop the conduct that is causing the harm. The court may also order other types of relief, such as a declaration of the legal rights of the plaintiff in a particular situation.
