What is the difference between criminal and civil court?

In Massachusetts, criminal and civil court each handle very different types of cases. Criminal court is where cases involving laws that have been broken, or crimes, are handled. These can include felonies such as murder, as well as misdemeanors like shoplifting. The prosecutor brings the case to court and the defendant is tried in front of a jury. If the defendant is found guilty, the court can then sentence them with jail time or fines. Civil court is where cases involving disputes between two parties are heard. These disputes can include anything from a landlord and tenant dispute to a breach of contract or a disagreement over child support. In civil court, the two parties are usually represented by lawyers. The court then weighs the evidence in the case and makes a judgment about who is liable in the dispute and what kind of remedy, such as a monetary payment, the liable party will have to make.

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What is the difference between criminal and civil court?

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