What is the difference between criminal and civil procedure?

Criminal and civil procedures are two distinct branches of the law in Virginia. They are both important, yet distinct, processes for resolving legal disputes. Criminal procedure involves the prosecution of individuals for crimes, such as robbery, murder, or DUI. These cases are usually filed by the state or federal government. It is the responsibility of the prosecutor to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that an individual has committed a crime. Criminal procedures are usually adversarial in nature, meaning that both sides in the case argue their cases to a judge and jury. Civil procedure involves disputes between individuals or organizations, such as contract disputes, property disputes, and torts. Unlike criminal cases, civil cases are usually non-adversarial, meaning the parties agree on the facts of the case before trial. In most cases, one side presents evidence to the court, and the other side presents evidence in response. The court then applies the law to the facts of the case and makes a ruling. In short, the difference between criminal and civil procedures is that criminal cases involve the prosecution of individuals for criminal offenses by the state or federal government, while civil cases involve disputes between individuals or organizations.

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