| Criminal Trial | Civil Trial | |
|---|---|---|
| The Parties Involved: | The government (federal, state, or local) and an alleged law-breaker | Private individuals or groups |
| At issue: | Court must determine whether one party has violated a statute that prohibits some type of activity; case deals with offenses against society as a whole | Court must determine whether one party has caused harm to another party; case deals with rights and duties between individuals |
| Type of Wrongdoing: | Transgression against society | Harm to private person or group |
| Penalty or Remedy: | Punishment (fine, imprisonment, deterrence, rehabilitation, etc.) | Compensation for damages or loss |
| Burden of Proof: | That the person is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt | That a preponderance of evidence supports the claim |