Modern jurisprudence has developed distinct bodies or categories of law that are associated with these different types of conduct. Civil procedure regulates access to and behavior within the judicial system. Contract law regulates the behavior of parties who have voluntarily entered into agreements to do or to refrain from doing something. Tort and criminal law set standards of conduct which are binding upon members of society. Tort law provides a means for parties injured by the conduct of fellow members of society to bring an action against the injuring party to personally compensate the injured party.
Criminal law is analogous to tort law and often provides parallel actions.
Criminal law, however, views certain types of conduct as an affront to society. Therefore, society, through the government, is granted the right to bring an action against the individual who violates society's code of conduct. It is also granted the right to impose penalties and punishment on persons who violate the code of conduct. Property law regulates the relationship between members of society and things. Despite this simplified overview of the categories of law, overlaps often exist between various categories.