Criminal court is used for handling criminal charges which are generally brought by the state prosecutor's office. Civil court is an arena for handling civil suits. There are many differences between these two legal systems. To help you better understand them, here is an outline of what each system's functions are.
Criminal Court
A criminal court is a room where legal issues regarding alleged crimes are handled. A judge will preside over such a courtroom, and you may have the right to a jury in many cases. Usually, the trier of fact (judge or jury) will be deciding whether or not a defendant is guilty or innocent in criminal court and what type of punishment to impose on the defendant who is found guilty. Fines and incarceration or probation are common punishments in criminal court.
Criminal court allows the defendant to present evidence and testimony to support a not guilty verdict, or to support a defense to the crime alleged. Prior to presenting evidence at a trial (if a defendant chooses to go to trial), there is often one or more preliminary hearings regarding the case during which the attorneys establish facts in the case and determine whether the case will go forward, be dismissed or have the criminal charges reduced.
Civil Court
Civil court is a room where legal issues relating to non-criminal disputes are handled. There is a wide array of cases that can be handled in civil court. Personal injury cases, property disputes, contracts cases, small claims issues and probate cases are all handled in civil court rooms.
In civil court, one party is alleging that the other party caused an injury either physically or financially. Compensation for the injury is sought through the legal process. Many civil cases settle before trial, but like a criminal case, civil cases do go to trial before either a judge or jury.
Both kinds of courts have similar professionals working in them, including judges, attorneys and bailiffs. The outcome of the case in civil court is usually a monetary award for damages or a finding in favor of the defendant. There are different standards of proof in civil and criminal cases.
Getting Legal Help
If you are facing criminal or civil charges, you should contact an attorney who is experienced in handling cases like yours. An attorney will walk you through the legal process, help you to prepare the best defense for your case and answer your questions about the law.
