What is the difference between civil and criminal law?

The difference between civil and criminal law is that criminal law focuses on punishing those who break the law, while civil law focuses on resolving disputes between two or more parties. In criminal law, an individual is being prosecuted by the state for breaking the law. The court must ascertain the guilt or innocence of the accused and then determine an appropriate sentence if the accused is found guilty. The goal in criminal law is to impose a punishment that fits the crime. In civil law, there is no need to decide guilt or innocence. The goal is typically to reach an equitable resolution between the two or more parties. This resolution typically involves awarding money to a party that was wronged, or establishing a contract between two or more parties. Unlike criminal law, the goal in civil law is typically to resolve a dispute, not to penalize someone. In North Carolina, civil court cases can be initiated by filing a complaint in the county court where the incident occurred. On the other hand, criminal matters must be initiated by the state. The state typically files criminal complaints in the county court where the alleged crime was committed. In summary, civil and criminal laws are separate and distinct. Civil law is focused on resolving disputes between two or more parties, while criminal law is focused on punishing those who have broken the law.

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What is the difference between civil and criminal law?

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