What are the differences between civil law and criminal law?

Civil law and criminal law are two distinct branches of the legal system. While both deal with legal issues, they differ in important ways. In civil law, two or more parties will come to court to settle a dispute between them, usually over a contract or an argument about money. The parties involved may bring a case against each other in order to reach a resolution. The court will determine the rights and obligations of the parties, and may award money damages if they find in favor of one party. In criminal law, the state or federal government prosecutors will bring charges against a person or persons who they believe has broken the law. The purpose of criminal law is to protect society from dangerous and/or harmful behavior, and to punish offenders for their actions. The court must determine whether the defendant is guilty or innocent beyond a reasonable doubt, and if found guilty, the court will impose a sentence such as a fine, jail time, or probation. In South Dakota, civil law and criminal law are governed by the same set of statutes. Cases in both areas of law are heard in state courts, and appeals from state court decisions are heard in the Supreme Court of South Dakota.

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What are the differences between civil law and criminal law?

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