What is the difference between criminal and civil laws?
[TOP] Criminal laws outline penalties for conduct that is prohibited by law. Murder, robbery, and shoplifting are examples of criminal laws. The punishment for criminal violations can range from incarceration in state penitentiaries for felonies to county jail or fines for misdemeanors. Civil statutes address grievances that arise from disputes between parties to a lawsuit. The party who files the lawsuit is known as the “plaintiff.” The opposing party who is being sued is known as the “defendant.” Civil suits may involve contract disputes, divorce proceedings or landlord/tenant eviction actions. 4.