Every society needs order to function so that its citizens can leave a peaceful life. To maintain order in society and prevent chaos and uncertainty, we need criminal law. To ensure the smooth functioning of society, laws have been enacted that define certain acts or behaviors as prohibited crimes or the violation of which may result in punishment for such behavior. In other words, criminal law deals with crime and the legal punishment of crimes. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The purpose and characteristics of civil and criminal lawsSince crime is conduct that goes beyond injury to private individuals and causes public harm to society as a whole, a criminal act is considered an offense against the State and the company. In criminal cases, a prosecutor, on behalf of the federal or state government, dismisses the case against the defendant. An individual cannot file a criminal case against another individual. He can only report the crime. A criminal conviction can result in prison time or fines. On the other hand, civil law deals with the private rights of people. Civil suits are filed by the individual when his (plaintiff) rights are violated or when there is a dispute between two parties. The purpose of civil law is to compensate the victim of the tort and generally involves paying fines or compensating the victim for damages. The purpose of criminal law is to deter or punish serious offenders. Criminal law deals with crimes against the state or society even if the direct victim is a natural person. A person can be charged with a criminal offense if their behavior or actions are against the law and even if no one was harmed as a result of their actions. The fundamental concept of criminal law is that the criminal act does not affect the individual but society as a whole. The purpose of deterrence is not simply to punish people for crime but also to discourage people from committing the same crime. In a criminal case, the burden of proof or proving the defendant's liability lies with the prosecution. Unless the prosecution proves the defendant guilty, he or she is presumed innocent. Furthermore, in a criminal case, the evidence must prove that the defendant is guilty of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt, which is the highest standard of proof in any court of law. In a civil case, the burden of proof is lower and rests on the judge. the plaintiff and plaintiff must show that it is more likely than not that the defendant was or is liable by a preponderance of the evidence. In some civil cases, the plaintiff may be required to prove by clear and convincing evidence. In criminal cases, when the accused is found guilty, the judge must sentence the accused based on the guidelines established by the existing criminal law for that crime. . Within these guidelines, the judge has discretion. In civil law, when the defendant is found liable for a wrong, he or she is required to pay financial damages to the plaintiff or is ordered to do or not do something. Please note: this is just a sample. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay While the treatment of criminal and civil cases has significant differences, some actions can result in both civil and criminal cases. For example, the assault can result in either a criminal case or a civil lawsuit. If a person has intentionally injured another person, he has violated the criminal code and has.