Criminal vs Civil Law: which statement is accurate?

• A. Criminal law deals with crimes against society; civil law handles disputes between people.
• B. Civil law deals with crimes against society; criminal law handles disputes between people.
• C. Criminal law only applies to government contracts.
• D. Civil law is about criminal penalties.

Answer: (A)

Understanding the difference between criminal and civil law is key. Criminal law defines acts that are crimes against the public and society as a whole. When someone is accused, the government (the prosecutor) brings the case, and the aim is to punish the offender and to deter others from similar conduct. Civil law, by contrast, deals with disputes between individuals or organizations in non-criminal matters, such as contracts, property, or personal injuries, with remedies like monetary damages or court orders rather than jail time.

That distinction makes the statement accurate: criminal law handles offenses against society, while civil law resolves disputes between people. The other descriptions mix up who handles crimes, what civil law covers, or what civil law penalties look like.