THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURES

Some of the differences between the two are the fact that criminal procedures are prosecutions that are started by the state, while civil prosecutions are started by private induviduals.

For example, in a criminal case, you would often see:

People v.s Sanchez- people can describe the certain state, like Texas. People of Texas vs. Sanchez.

In civil cases, such as those seen on shows like Judge Judy or the People's Court, you would often see:

Smith vs Sanchez- two induviduals, who are called plaintiff or defendant, are involved. They are usually based on financial matters and sue for a given amount of money, damages, or the transfer of property. The video below states a little more on the topic...