Basics of Criminal and Civil Law

definition

By ________, criminal law is a system of law that is concerned with the punishment of offenders.

Criminal offenses

________ can come in the form of murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, and theft among dozens of other crimes.

It sets out the types of behaviour that are forbidden

going against these laws can risk serious punishment to the perpetrator

If someone were to break a criminal law, they are said to have offended against the state itself

this means that the state has the right to persecute people

These crimes usually have at least one victim, but victims are not necessarily humans 100% of the time

companies and property can also be victims

Civil law is concerned with issues among a community

for example, it may settle a dispute between an individual and a business

There are always two parties in a civil court case

the defendant, and the claimant

A judge oversees disputes that occur in civil courts

the judge is rarely joined by a jury in these situations, but on some occasions a jury may be called into the court to aid in finding a final verdict

In a civil court, a claimant can only be awarded money for their damages

whereas the defendant in this case may receive a punishment on top of having to pay the claimant