How is a criminal court different from a civil court?

Criminal courts and civil courts are two distinct types of courts with significantly different functions. In criminal court, the government prosecutes a person who is believed to have committed a crime. This type of court hears trials related to felony and misdemeanor offenses such as robbery, battery, and murder. The defendant in a criminal court case is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The purpose of a criminal court is to determine the guilt or innocence of the defendant and to punish those found guilty. In contrast, civil courts are where people can go to resolve disputes between two or more parties over private legal issues. These issues often involve money, property, or contracts. In civil court, the plaintiff, or the person filing the case, must prove their case by a preponderance of the evidence, which is a lower standard than in criminal court. Civil courts also do not imply any criminal punishment as they are not related to law enforcement. The goal of civil court is to provide a legal remedy in the form of money, changes in behavior, or other type of relief.

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