Criminal v. Civil Cases Flashcards
what potential punishment are you dealing with in a criminal case?
prison time, fines, capital punishment, life sentence
describe the nature of a criminal case
criminal cases can only be brought to trial by a government institution against a person for breaking the law.
what is the goal of a criminal case?
to reach a guilty verdict
what must the prosecution do in order to prove a suspect guilty in a criminal case?
to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt
what must the defense do in order to prove innocence?
the defense must get doubt into the jurors’ heads and suggest that your client is not guilty. If there is any doubt introduced in the case, the prosecution may not win.
describe the nature of a civil case
there is no government involved. A civil case involves money rather than prison time. In a civil case, the prosecution does not have to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt
how does the prosecution prove the suspect guilty in a civil case?
guilt does not have to be proven beyond reasonable doubt; therefore, it is not as difficult for the prosecution to prove guilt as it is in a criminal case. In a civil case, all you need is evidence to prove guilt.
examples of civil cases
auto accidents, business transaction issues, marriage and divorce, real estate, insurance, consumer protection
Summarize the O.J. Simpson case
Main factors of O.J. Simpson criminal trial
Main factors of O.J. Simpson civil trial
How was O.J. Simpson proven innocent in the criminal case, yet guilty in the civil court?
