Can Some Activities Be Both A Criminal Offense And A Civil Offense?
Yes. For example, if Dave decides to walk up and slug Matt, Dave may be guilty of battery in a criminal court and he may also be liable to Matt for battery in a civil court. Many times, a defendant in a criminal case will plead “no contest” as opposed to “guilty.” For purposes of the criminal matter, the plea has the same effect as pleading guilty. However, a “no contest” plea will not have a negative effect in a civil matter.
Other Civil Versus Criminal Law FAQs
Criminal Law Sub-categories