Question Tag: Distinctions

The distinctions between an offence and a civil wrong are:
i. Nature of the Wrong: An offence is a wrong against the State, while a civil wrong is a wrong against an individual or a private entity.

ii. Objective: The objective of a criminal trial is to punish the offender, while in civil cases, the objective is to compensate the injured party.

iii. Burden of Proof: In criminal cases, the burden of proof is “beyond a reasonable doubt,” while in civil cases, it is “on the balance of probabilities.”