Question #220571
What are the differences between criminal and civil cases?
Expert's answer
Criminal cases happen when someone breaks a law, or commits a criminal offense, which typically results in jail time. Civil cases handle almost all other disputes, and typically aim for some sort of recovery. A criminal case is filed by the government and is led by a prosecuting attorney. A civil case is filed by a private party, typically an individual or corporation, against another individual or corporation. As a rule, but not exclusively, there are attorneys who practice criminal law and others who practice civil litigation.
