What are the main differences between civil law and criminal law?
- Different standards of proof: in civil law, the claimant needs to produce evidence beyond the balance of probabilities; whereas in criminal law the defendant is innocent, unless the crime is proven beyond reasonable doubt. 2. Different purposes: the purpose of criminal law is to punish the wrongdoer and deter him from committing further crimes; the purpose of civil law is to award compensation to the party that suffered a loss. 3. Different types of punishment - in criminal law the guilty party is subject to imprisonment or fines/community service; in civil law the claimant is compensated (usually financially), or the court issues an injunction. 4. Who files the case? Civil law - private party; Criminal law - the Government. 5. Different burdens of proof: in civil law it is usually the claimant who needs to give proof (but not always); in criminal law the prosecution must prove the defendant guilty.
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