Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in California

charged in criminal and civil

I don't understand how you can be charged for the same exact crime in a criminal court and again in the civil court. Once you have been convicted criminally pay restitution, serve probation, serve time in jail. How can the same person come after for the same thing in civil court I would think that would violate the 5th amendment or at the very least res judicata. Criminal - civil is just a matter of semantics, especially when it comes to seaking fines and restitution - isn't it - if not why?


Asked on 8/03/07, 11:21 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Terry A. Nelson Nelson & Lawless

Re: charged in criminal and civil

The fact that you don't understand is irrelevant. They are two separate systems, one to give redress to society, and one to give redress to individuals.

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Answered on 8/06/07, 6:27 pm


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