What is the difference between civil and criminal procedure?

The main difference between civil and criminal procedure is that criminal procedure is concerned with punishing individuals for violating the laws of the state, while civil procedure is primarily concerned with resolving disputes between two parties. In criminal procedure, the state is the prosecuting party, and the accused individual is the defendant. The state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused committed the crime. In civil procedure, the two parties are usually individuals, businesses, or other entities who have a dispute between them. Generally, one party is trying to get money or other damages from the other party. The burden of proof for a civil trial is “preponderance of the evidence,” which means that it must be more likely true than not true. In Florida, criminal procedure follows the procedures and standards set by the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure. Civil procedure is guided by Florida Rules of Civil Procedure. These rules include all the details regarding how a case should be handled, from filing the initial paperwork to the appeals process.

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