Criminal Court Civil Court Similarities Differences
Function/Jurisdiction The main function of the The function of the civil o Both civil and o In a civil court there
criminal justice system is courts is to deal with cases criminal courts are mainly two
to ensure justice is given that relate to civil wrongs. involve a judge, participants. The
to all. They do this by These cases relate to non- magistrate or a plaintiff and the
convicting and punishing criminal law and do not judicial officer. defendant. Sometimes
guilty individuals that affect an individual’s o The civil and the government is one
have committed crimes. liberty. Civil cases are criminal courts of the parties.
They also help them to disputes that are between are oppositional o Cases are handled by
stop offending while private parties, or negligent in everything they a jury of 12
protecting the innocent acts that cause harm to do. individuals in a civil
within the society. Another others. Civil courts have o Within the UK, case.
purpose of the criminal jurisdiction over all civil they both have o Reasonable doubt is
court system is to provide matters. According to Price courts with not required. A
an efficient, fair, accurate et al (2014:210). Criminal jurisdiction. They "preponderance of
and effective justice law is concerned with both also have evidence" is enough
process for the public. settling disputes “between courts with extra- in most cases.
Criminal courts have individuals, businesses and national o The plaintiff can ask
jurisdiction over all sometimes the government”. functions. for monetary relief or
criminal matters. o Both courts are equitable relief.
According to Price et al becoming o In a criminal court the
(2014:165) criminal law is increasingly government is always
1
Function/Jurisdiction The main function of the The function of the civil o Both civil and o In a civil court there
criminal justice system is courts is to deal with cases criminal courts are mainly two
to ensure justice is given that relate to civil wrongs. involve a judge, participants. The
to all. They do this by These cases relate to non- magistrate or a plaintiff and the
convicting and punishing criminal law and do not judicial officer. defendant. Sometimes
guilty individuals that affect an individual’s o The civil and the government is one
have committed crimes. liberty. Civil cases are criminal courts of the parties.
They also help them to disputes that are between are oppositional o Cases are handled by
stop offending while private parties, or negligent in everything they a jury of 12
protecting the innocent acts that cause harm to do. individuals in a civil
within the society. Another others. Civil courts have o Within the UK, case.
purpose of the criminal jurisdiction over all civil they both have o Reasonable doubt is
court system is to provide matters. According to Price courts with not required. A
an efficient, fair, accurate et al (2014:210). Criminal jurisdiction. They "preponderance of
and effective justice law is concerned with both also have evidence" is enough
process for the public. settling disputes “between courts with extra- in most cases.
Criminal courts have individuals, businesses and national o The plaintiff can ask
jurisdiction over all sometimes the government”. functions. for monetary relief or
criminal matters. o Both courts are equitable relief.
According to Price et al becoming o In a criminal court the
(2014:165) criminal law is increasingly government is always
1