What is the difference between criminal and civil court?

In Alaska, criminal and civil court refer to different types of legal proceedings. Criminal court is a type of legal proceeding where a person is accused of breaking the law. If the person is found guilty of the crime, they may be sentenced to jail time or fines, or both. The purpose of criminal court is to make sure the accused individual is held accountable for their actions, and to make sure that justice is served. Civil court is a type of legal proceeding that involves disputes between two or more people, usually over financial matters. For example, if Person A sues Person B for a debt that they claim Person B owes them, Person A would take Person B to civil court. Unlike criminal court, no one is found guilty or innocent in civil court. Instead, the court works to come to an agreement between both parties, usually involving a financial payment. The purpose of civil court is to make sure that both parties are treated fairly and that any disputes or disagreements are resolved in a manner that is satisfactory to both sides. Both criminal and civil court proceedings can be complex and difficult to understand. As such, it is important to seek the advice of a qualified attorney before taking any legal action.

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