What is the difference between civil and criminal contempt?

Civil contempt is a type of court order used to enforce a person’s compliance with a court rule or order, or to make sure that someone else receives the benefit of a court order. Generally, this type of court order seeks to do something positive such as compel someone to comply with a court order, or to ensure that someone else receives the benefits of a court order. If a person or organization fails to comply with a court order, they can be held in civil contempt and may be subject to fines, jail time, or other penalties. Criminal contempt, on the other hand, is a more serious offense. Criminal contempt is an act that is considered to be in direct violation of the court’s authority or order. This type of offense is usually punishable by jail time or prison time, as well as fines or other penalties. Examples of criminal contempt would be intentionally disobeying a court order, disrupting court proceedings, or failing to appear in court when ordered to do so. In Kansas, the court of common pleas generally deals with civil contempt. The district court, court of appeals, and Supreme Court of Kansas handle criminal contempt cases. Depending on the severity and nature of the criminal contempt, the person who is found guilty of this offense may also face incarceration or a fine.

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