Criminal Justice System: Criminal Cases and Civil Cases

Civil and Criminal Liability

Civil cases are private disputes arising between individuals following violations of legal responsibilities owed to each other. Criminal cases, on the other hand, involve wrongs committed against the state, and which are regarded as harmful to society as a whole, as opposed to a single individual. This text compares civil and criminal cases with the aim of identifying differences and similarities, as well as the role played by either in the administration of justice.

Parties Involved: a civil case begins when an aggrieved party (plaintiff) brings suit against another party (defendant) for failing to honor a legal responsibility owed to him/her. In this scenario, the case is filed at the state or federal court by the wronged party, and both the defendant and the plaintiff are referred to as 'litigants' or 'parties to the suit' (Find Law, 2014)....
[ View Full Essay]