Civil Wrong and Criminal Wrongs

Civil Wrongs and Criminal Wrongs

Why does the law distinguish between civil wrongs and criminal wrongs?

In order to understand why the law distinguishes between civil wrongs and criminal wrongs one needs to understand the meaning of each. “Criminal action is a complaint brought by the state or the federal government acting on behalf of the citizens of the State or the U.S, against a person accused of violating a statutory law” (Meldon, 2012). Only the State of federal government can prosecute criminal wrongs such as murder, drug-related offenses, burglary, and DUI.  A civil wrong on the other hand is any wrongdoing for which an action for damages is brought. “A harmed person or an organization brings a civil action, which is non-criminal action, involving private rights, seeking remedy” (Meldon, 2012). “Both private citizens and the state and federal government can bring civil actions against others” (Meldon, 2012). Examples of civil wrongs are torts (such as negligence), property disputes, contract matters, and wills and trusts. In other words” Civil Law deals with the disputes between individuals, organizations, or between the two, in which compensation is awarded to the victim whilst as criminal law is the body of law that deals with crime and the legal punishment of criminal offences” (Diffen, 2013). The main reason why the law distinguishes between the two in my onion is that both these laws have two different main objectives that they try to accomplish. The main objective of criminal law is to prevent offenses and punishments while the main goal of civil law is to compensate. Keep in mind though that some crimes can be both. One also needs to understand that the law needs to be able to distinguish between these two laws because not all civil case or suits makes the person or organization to be classified as a criminal. In business as well as in peoples private capacity it also happens that there are disputes and businesses and individuals...