What is the difference between criminal and civil court?

The primary difference between criminal and civil court in North Carolina is the type of cases that they handle. Criminal court deals with cases where someone is accused of a crime, while civil court deals with disputes between two or more parties about their legal rights and duties. In criminal court, the prosecution is responsible for proving that the accused person committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. The judge or jury will decide if the accused person is guilty or not guilty. If the accused person is found guilty, the judge will determine the sentence. In civil court, the plaintiff (the person bringing the case) must prove that the defendant (the person being sued) is liable for damages. The judge or jury may decide that the defendant is liable and will make a decision on how much money is owed to the plaintiff. Criminal court cases also have more severe punishments than civil court cases. If the accused person is found guilty, they could face a fine, community service, probation, or even jail time. However, civil court cases usually only involve the awarding of monetary damages or an injunction (an order from the court that requires someone to do or not do something). In North Carolina, both criminal and civil court cases are tried in the same courthouses and are subject to the same laws and regulations. However, each court is run differently and has different processes and procedures.

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What is the difference between criminal and civil court?

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