What is the Difference Between Civil and Criminal Law? If the Difference Between Civil and Criminal law, I could explain in one line, that civil law is with the behavior of the people or the society while criminal law prohibits some activities and makes them punishable.
Civil Law codifies a set of rules that deal with the behavior of any individual or organization that can cause injury to any private party or individual. Example:-
1. Defamation law,
2. Libel and Slander,
3. Breach of contract,
4. Negligence resulting in injury,
5. Property Damage.
Criminal law talks about deals with the behavior that can be construed as offensive to the public society or the land. Examples:-
1. Theft,
2. Murder,
3. Rape,
4. Dacoity, etc.
The difference between civil law and criminal law can be done on the basis of their initiation, their judgments or how they are decided, and what is the penalty in each of them. Another addition to the basis of the difference between civil law and criminal law could be what legal protection would be available to the defendants in each of them. Take a look at them.
Let us have a look at the what are the essentials in the difference between civil law and criminal law.
Criminal Law:-
1. Criminal law deals with offences that are committed against society.
2. The punishment of the offence would be as per the seriousness of the Criminal offence committed. Also, a fine could be imposed.
3. In Criminal Law, one party will always be the government.
4. Criminal law punishes the convicts, protects the citizens, and ensures law and order in the land.
5. The petition cannot be filed directly in a court but a complaint must be first registered with the police and its investigation needs to be carried out. Thereafter a case can be filed in Court.
6. The accused is prosecuted in a court of law.
7. In these, the court is empowered to charge a fine, imprison the guilty of a crime, or discharge the defendant.
8. Here, the defendant is considered either guilty or not guilty by the court.
9. Criminal law deals with specific serious crimes like murder, rape, robbery, etc.
Civil Law:-
1. Civil Law is a general law. It solves disputes between two organizations or individuals.
2. To settle the dispute, compensation is provided to the aggrieved party in a civil law case. No such punishment is given in such cases.
3. Civil law to exist needs the aggrieved individual or organization.
4. The objective of Civil law is to protect the rights of an individual or organization. It needs to ensure the wrongs done are rectified against the sufferer.
5. The aggrieved party can file a case in a tribunal or court.
6. The victim or aggrieved party can sure those who offended it.
7. The court in such cases can only pass judgment to compensate for the damage done to the aggrieved party.
8. The defendant here is considered to be either liable or not liable.
9. Civil law deals with Property, Money, Housing, Divorce, custody of a child in the event of divorce, etc.
