Civil Law V. Criminal Law
Professor Gary Shapley | Civil Law v. Criminal Law | Introduction to Criminal Law |
Joanna Solis
3/2/2012
|
Only a few people actually know “the law”. Others think that the criminal justice system is a body that only has one set of rules and laws and all act the same. Not to mention that because of television they think that every case is tried at criminal court with a judge and a panel of jurors. However that is not the case because there’s two specifically types of law, civil and criminal law. Though both are very different from each other, both results are the same since they help protect our rights as citizens. Before we get to know what the differences between civil and criminal law we have to understand what each of them mean and how they work. Civil law takes over cases that are normally non-violent crimes. Civil law is about private disputes between individuals or between individuals and companies/organizations. This is where people who have disagreements over contracts, property ownership, divorce, child custody, and damages for personal and property damage are dealt with. (What is Civil Law?) Civil law is meant for people to solve their disputes in a peaceful and orderly manner. Civil disputes most likely end up in one party paying for damages done to the other or having to abstain from a particular activity. I want to say cases that go to civil law rarely, if ever, the defenders don’t go to jail. (What is Civil Law?) Criminal law takes over cases that are felonies and misdemeanors such as murder, assault, traffic charges, burglary, sexual assault, and etcetera. (What is Criminal Law?) In criminal law, the legal action is initiated by the prosecutor who decides whether to bring charges and exactly what charges to bring. Criminal law is used to punish people that along with their crimes or offenses have put others safety and welfare in danger. (Samaha, 2008) Most of the time, all offenders are punished depending on the severity of the crime
Joanna Solis
3/2/2012
|
Only a few people actually know “the law”. Others think that the criminal justice system is a body that only has one set of rules and laws and all act the same. Not to mention that because of television they think that every case is tried at criminal court with a judge and a panel of jurors. However that is not the case because there’s two specifically types of law, civil and criminal law. Though both are very different from each other, both results are the same since they help protect our rights as citizens. Before we get to know what the differences between civil and criminal law we have to understand what each of them mean and how they work. Civil law takes over cases that are normally non-violent crimes. Civil law is about private disputes between individuals or between individuals and companies/organizations. This is where people who have disagreements over contracts, property ownership, divorce, child custody, and damages for personal and property damage are dealt with. (What is Civil Law?) Civil law is meant for people to solve their disputes in a peaceful and orderly manner. Civil disputes most likely end up in one party paying for damages done to the other or having to abstain from a particular activity. I want to say cases that go to civil law rarely, if ever, the defenders don’t go to jail. (What is Civil Law?) Criminal law takes over cases that are felonies and misdemeanors such as murder, assault, traffic charges, burglary, sexual assault, and etcetera. (What is Criminal Law?) In criminal law, the legal action is initiated by the prosecutor who decides whether to bring charges and exactly what charges to bring. Criminal law is used to punish people that along with their crimes or offenses have put others safety and welfare in danger. (Samaha, 2008) Most of the time, all offenders are punished depending on the severity of the crime
Bibliography: Barry K. Brown v. Richard Kay. (n.d.). Retrieved March 3, 2012, from Find A Case: http://ks.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20120209_0000131.sny.htm/qx Geldart, W. (1907). Elements of English Law. Samaha, J. (2008). Criminal Law. Belmont: Wadsworth. Standler, R. B. (1998). Differences between Civil and Criminal Law in the USA. Retrieved February 29, 2012, from http://www.rbs2.com/cc.htm#anchor111111 What is Civil Law? (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2012, from Civics Library Of The Missouri Bar: http://members.mobar.org/civics/whatiscivillaw.htm What is Civil Law? (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2012, from WiseGeek: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-civil-law.htm What is Criminal Law? (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2012, from Quiz Law: http://www.quizlaw.com/what-is-criminal-law/