Distinction between a criminal wrong from a civil wrong

Criminal wrong

• This is an act or omission committed or omitted in violation of public law.
• It is a wrong against the state.
• Examples include murder, rape, drunken driving, incitement to violence causing death by dangerous driving, incest assault theft by servant uttering a false document
• Persons who commit criminal wrongs are generally arrested by the state. They are then charged in a court of law and prosecuted by the state.
• If convicted they may be fined imprisoned, or subjected to capital or corporal punishment.

Civil wrong

• This is the violation of a persons rights by another.
• It is a wrong against a person i.e. human being, corporation or the state.
• Examples include breach of contract negligence, assault, battery, false imprisonment, defamation, nuisance, passing off deceit, conversion.
• The plaintiff sues the defendant for the wrong and must prove his case.
• Remedies for the plaintiff include damages, injunction, specific performance tracing account, winding up.