How is a criminal court different from a civil court?

In Washington, criminal court and civil court cases are handled differently. Criminal courts are set up to prosecute a person accused of breaking a law. In a criminal court case, the government is the plaintiff, and the accused is the defendant. The goal of criminal court is to ensure the accountability of the accused, decide guilt, and potentially punish the accused with fines, jail time, or other penalties. Civil courts, on the other hand, are set up to settle disputes between two or more private individuals or entities, such as businesses, organizations, or individuals. In a civil court case, two or more parties bring a dispute to court and a neutral third party, such as a judge or jury, hears the evidence and makes a decision with the goal of resolving the dispute. Depending on the case, a civil court may order monetary damages, specific action to be taken, or another settlement. Criminal courts focus on punishing a person accused of breaking a law, while civil courts focus on resolving disputes between two or more private entities. The main difference between criminal and civil courts is the purpose of the proceedings. In criminal court, the goal is justice, while in civil court, it is achieving a equitable resolution.

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