What is the difference between criminal and civil court?
In Illinois, criminal and civil court are two distinct types of court proceedings. Generally speaking, criminal court deals with crimes and criminal activity, whereas civil court deals with non-criminal disputes. Criminal court proceedings are conducted when the state or jurisdiction in which the crime is alleged to have been committed brings a case against an individual for a crime such as theft, assault or murder. These proceedings are more serious than civil court proceedings and involve a criminal defense lawyer and prosecutor. Generally, in criminal court, the judge presides over the proceedings and the decision will be based on a set of criminal laws. Civil court proceedings, on the other hand, are non-criminal proceedings between two or more parties involving legal disputes. These court proceedings are typically more informal than criminal court proceedings and often involve a lawyer representing each party. The decision in civil court is based on law and facts. In conclusion, the primary difference between criminal and civil court is that criminal court deals with criminal activities, while civil court deals with non-criminal matters such as disputes between private individuals, companies or organizations. In criminal court, the proceedings tend to be more formal and serious, and the decision is based on criminal laws. Civil court proceedings involve a lawyer representing each party and the decision is based on facts and law.
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