All court cases are either civil or criminal.
Civil cases: include all types of legal actions other than criminal actions. For example, civil cases can deal with contract-related disputes, adoptions, divorces, and car accidents, to name a few. In a civil case, the plaintiff (the person bringing the legal action) presents a suit before a judge or a jury, with the goal being to persuade the judge or the jury that he or she should prevail in his claim (win the case). By contrast, the defendant’s (the person against whom the legal action has been brought) goal is to persuade the judge or the jury that the evidence presented by the plaintiff is not enough to win the case.
Criminal cases: in many cases, a complainant (a victim) files a complaint alleging that someone (the defendant) committed a criminal act against him or her. Because violation of the criminal law is considered an offense against the entire community, it is not the individual harmed, but the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, represented by the county office of the district attorney or Attorney General, that brings a criminal charge before the courts. In the event the prosecutor proves the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt to a jury or to a judge (hearing the case without a jury) resulting in the defendant’s conviction, the defendant can face penalties, such as prison time, probation or fines.
More information about how civil and criminal cases move through the court system in Pennsylvania is available here.
What type of case do you have?
- I have a civil case.
- I have a criminal case. (A Court Users Guide to the Criminal Courts is under development.)
Disclaimer: PMC does not provide legal advice or represent clients in court or other legal proceedings. This guide is created solely to help individuals navigate the courts. It does not serve as a substitute for legal advice and should not be interpreted as such.
