Criminal law pertains to murder, assault, theft, and vandalism. On the other hand, civil law is the law that governs relationships and disputes. This includes marriage, divorce, property ownership, and contract law. Criminal law is typically stricter in terms of punishment and can involve imprisonment or even death. In contrast, civil law is generally less severe and only applies penalties like fines or damages.
Criminal law is typically applied when a crime has been committed, while civil law is used when a conflict or dispute between two parties. For example, if you are involved in a car accident, and the other driver files a lawsuit, that would be a case of civil law. On the other hand, if you were caught shoplifting at the mall and the police came to your house to take you into custody, that would be a case of criminal law.