Question

The Adult Justice System
Divided into _____ and _______
law
• In the case of criminal law,
offenses are categorized into
felonies and misdemeanors

Answer 1

The Adult Justice System
Divided into civil and criminal law.

- Civil law deals with disputes between private parties (e.g., contracts, torts, family law) and remedies are usually monetary damages or equitable relief.
- Criminal law involves offenses against the state/society; offenses are categorized into felonies and misdemeanors.
- Felonies: more serious crimes (typically punishable by more than one year in prison, long-term incarceration, large fines, or death in some jurisdictions). Examples: murder, rape, robbery.
- Misdemeanors: less serious offenses (generally punishable by less than one year in jail, fines, community service, or probation). Examples: petty theft, simple assault, DUI (in some cases).
- Note: Some systems also recognize infractions/violations (minor offenses punished by fines only). Criminal cases require proof beyond a reasonable doubt; civil cases use a lower standard (preponderance of the evidence).