What is the difference between civil law and criminal law?
Civil law deals with individual wrongs. Criminal law deals with wrongs against society. For example, if someone steals your car, you have been wronged and can sue in civil court for compensation. However, society has also been wronged, and the state will prosecute the person for harming society (e.g. making it less safe). On the other hand, if someone defames you, you have been personally wronged, but society has not been. In this case, you can sue to be compensated for the defamation in civil court, but the state cannot prosecute in criminal court. Well, that is the philosophic answer. In practice, you can tell the difference by who brings the case. A criminal matter is brought by the government, whereas a civil matter is brought by another person (or some private entity). The outcome is also different. Criminal law primarily deals with rehabilitation or punishment for wrongs, and ends in fines or imprisonment. Civil law is about righting a wrong and has the primary purpose of compens
