What is the difference between civil and criminal court?

Criminal cases are prosecutions brought by the government against someone accused of violating criminal law, with penalties including fines, probation, and incarceration. The burden of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt, the highest standard in law, and defendants have constitutional protections including appointed counsel if they cannot afford it, the right to remain silent, and protection against double jeopardy. Civil cases are disputes between private parties, or between a party and the government acting in a non-criminal capacity, over money, property, contracts, or conduct, and the remedies are damages and court orders rather than jail. The usual standard is preponderance of the evidence, meaning more likely than not, with a middle standard, clear and convincing evidence, applied to certain claims.

The two systems run independently on the same facts, which is why one incident can produce both. The most cited example is O.J. Simpson, acquitted in criminal court where the state had to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, then found liable in a civil wrongful death suit under the lower preponderance standard, an outcome that looks contradictory only if you assume the standards are the same. Other practical differences: there is no right to appointed counsel in most civil cases, so unrepresented parties are common, civil juries are often smaller and may not need to be unanimous depending on jurisdiction, and settlements resolve the overwhelming majority of civil matters before trial. Criminal cases likewise resolve mostly through plea agreements rather than trials.