3+Criminal+vs.+Civil

Chapter 15 - Section 2 & 3 Page Numbers 430- 443 Alyssa Hughes Rebecca Bower

Students will understand the difference between Civil and Criminal law.

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[|Rebecca's Link] I chose this link because it is both extremely informative and helpful. Not only does the website clearly define the differences between Civil and Criminal Law, but it helps those in need as well. If a person is unsure of whether or not they are the victim of a crime, they can use this website to evaluate their situation. This website can help determine whether or not they have enough evidence and means to bring their case to trial. This site also has a list of commonly asked questions that they have answered in great detail. It is also important to know that this website was written by people with multiple degrees from multiple colleges. This shows they have a wealth of knowledge about the topics at hand. Overall the website is a great resource to anyone looking into Civil and Criminal Law.

[|Alyssa's Link] I think this link on the Casey Anthony trial plays a significant part in our presentation. Casey Anthony was accused of murdering her two year old daughter Caylee and after years of deliberation in the courtroom, was found not guilty. In fact, she was only found guilty of a misdemeanor crime of lying to investigators and police officers during the investigation of Caylee's death. This link provides a real life example of how criminal court cases work and the various types of crime. It also discusses possible punishments for the crimes Casey was and was not convicted of. The article mentions that Casey did not testify against herself, a freedom guaranteed by the fifth amendment. I also found the forensics of the trial very interesting as well. An additional part of criminal law is the evidence required to bring a case to court. In the Casey Anthony trial, one of the main reasons why Casey was found not guilty is that most of the evidence found was circumstantial and could not be pinned to a specific individual. For example, the duct tape was circumstantial evidence because anyone could have put the tape on Caylee's mouth since crime scene investigators did not find any fingerprints on the tape. This goes beyond the definitions of civil and criminal law, providing a real life example in which criminal law is enacted.

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Reflection Questions 1. Provide and explain an example from each of the two subcategories of torts/civil wrongs. 2. Explain the key difference between civil law and criminal law. 3. If I were to steal a candy bar from a convenience store, what type of offense would I have committed and what would be my possible punishment?

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