Discover Your Future in Law
Pursue a career related to civil or criminal law. Apply to GCU’s justice studies degree program!
Written By
GCE Editorial Team
Pursue a career related to civil or criminal law. Apply to GCU’s justice studies degree program!
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Approved and verified accurate by the Assistant Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences on Dec. 8, 2025.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.
Criminal law addresses offenses against society, focusing on punishment like fines or imprisonment. Civil law resolves disputes between individuals or entities, aiming for compensation or remedies rather than punishment.
To keep the peace and ensure that justice is served within a civilized society, people are subject to both civil and criminal law. Both civil and criminal law aim to enforce rules and resolve disputes, but they are otherwise quite different from each other, both in procedure and in outcome.
What is the difference between civil and criminal law? The main difference is that criminal law deals with crime and criminal punishment, whereas civil law deals with disputes between individuals or entities, for example, divorce or child custody cases.(See disclaimer 1)
Justice studies is a broad field with many career paths. If you plan to earn a degree in justice studies or a degree in government with an emphasis in legal studies (perhaps with plans for law school afterward), you may be interested in focusing on a career in criminal or civil law. Either choice could offer career opportunities that may allow you to make positive contributions to your community.
How can a defendant be found not guilty in a criminal court but liable in civil court for the same legal violation? The reason for this concerns the differences in the standard of proof in civil and criminal cases.
In a criminal court, a defendant is either acquitted (found not guilty) or found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. It is the responsibility of the state or federal government to prove that the defendant undoubtedly committed the crime and that none of the evidence could possibly exonerate the defendant. Notably, the burden of proof does not fall on the defendant, but on the government.(See disclaimer 1)
In a civil court, a plaintiff brings a lawsuit against a defendant. The burden of proof falls on the plaintiff, who must prove that it is more likely than not that the plaintiff’s claims are true. This is known as proving one’s case by a preponderance of the evidence.(See disclaimer 1) In other words, is it more than 50% likely that the plaintiff’s claims are true?
Because the standard of proof in civil and criminal cases is different, it’s possible for a defendant to be found not guilty in a criminal court but liable in a civil court for the same legal violation or incident.(See disclaimer 2)
Criminal laws at the local, state and federal level define criminal activities and establish legal punishments for those convicted of crimes like murder, arson, assault and theft. Criminal law cases are only conducted through the criminal court system.(See disclaimer 1)
In contrast, civil laws deal with the private rights of individuals and disputes between individuals or entities. Civil laws are applied when an individual has had their rights violated or when individuals have disputes with other individuals or organizations.(See disclaimer 1)
Some matters of civil law are handled outside a court of law, such as through a third-party mediator. Other civil cases may be settled by both parties outside of court before the case goes to trial. Alternatively, lawsuits may be resolved through a civil trial.
There are other notable differences between civil and criminal law cases. A civil case is filed by a private party — not a governmental entity — against an individual or entity, such as a business. In contrast, a criminal case is filed by the government at the local, state or federal level.(See disclaimer 1)
How are civil and criminal cases different in terms of the results? A civil case may lead to monetary compensation, while a criminal case may result in fines, imprisonment or other legal penalties, as it involves offenses against society.(See disclaimer 1)
After the conclusion of a civil case, either the plaintiff (the person who filed the lawsuit) or the defendant (the person accused in the lawsuit) may file an appeal if they lost. After the conclusion of a criminal case, only the defendant may file an appeal if they lost the case.(See disclaimer 1)
Despite the many differences between criminal and civil law, there is some overlap. Both types of law are intended to maintain order within society and to uphold individuals’ rights.
Another area of overlap concerns the types of cases that may fall under both types of law. For example, if a defendant is accused of sexual assault, that defendant may go on trial in a criminal court. The victim may also file a civil lawsuit against the defendant. Even if the defendant does not face a criminal case for the assault, they may still be sued in civil court.
However, if both a criminal case and a civil case arise from the same violation of the law, those cases will proceed entirely independently of one another. A defendant may be found not guilty in a criminal court due to insufficient evidence, but be found liable in a civil court for the same violation of the law.(See disclaimer 2)
Another area of overlap concerns statutes of limitations. A statute of limitations is a deadline. A case must be filed by that deadline, or the party gives up their right to bring a legal complaint.(See disclaimer 3)
Both criminal and civil law cases are subject to statutes of limitations, which are defined for specific types of cases under the applicable state or federal law. For some types of cases, such as murder, there is no statute of limitations, which means a defendant could be tried for murder years or decades after the murder occurred.(See disclaimer 3)
For a criminal case that is subject to a statute of limitations, the clock starts ticking when the crime was allegedly committed. For a civil case, the timeline might begin when the incident took place, although this isn’t always the case. Sometimes, an injury or loss isn’t discovered until afterward. In these situations, the clock doesn’t start ticking until a date on which the plaintiff could reasonably be expected to have discovered the injury or loss.(See disclaimer 3)
At Grand Canyon University, you can explore both civil and criminal law when you enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies program. Offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, this program provides an in-depth look at public policy, threat assessment and criminal behavior.
Alternatively, consider enrolling in the Bachelor of Arts in Government with an Emphasis in Legal Studies degree program to take a broader look at governance, as well as civil and criminal law. Both of these degree programs were designed for students who aspire to pursue careers in the law fields or go on to prepare for law school.
What is the difference between civil and criminal law in terms of the potential outcomes of the cases? If you’re considering pursuing a law-related career, it’s important to know that there are significant differences in potential legal penalties.
In a criminal case, a judge sentences a defendant who is found guilty by a jury. That decision must be unanimous. In a civil case that concludes with a trial, the jury determines the damages or legal penalties. Note that under some state laws, the jury does not have to reach a unanimous decision in a civil case.(See disclaimer 1)
When handing down the sentence in a criminal case, the judge must follow the sentencing guidelines established by current criminal law. For example, the sentencing guidelines may specify a mandatory minimum penalty and a maximum penalty that can be imposed.
Within those sentencing guidelines, the judge has some discretion. Legal penalties in a criminal case may include incarceration, probation and fines.
In a civil case, a defendant who is found liable for an act of wrongdoing can be ordered by the jury to pay damages (financial compensation) to the plaintiff. Compensation can be awarded for economic (quantifiable) losses, such as medical bills, or for non-economic (subjective) losses, such as pain and suffering. Sometimes, a jury may award additional punitive damages, which are intended to punish the defendant for conduct that was particularly egregious.