to have the same kind of trial as, say, Jason.

和傑森一樣接受審判。

That's why the courts in this country

這就是為什麼這個國家的法院

split cases into two categories--

將案件分為兩類

civil and criminal.

民事和刑事。

A civil case is when one person, the plaintiff,

民事案件是指一個人，即原告、

brings legal action against another person who

對另一人提起法律訴訟

has allegedly wronged them-- the defendant-- with the intent

被指控對他們--被告--不公，其意圖是

of collecting damages.

的賠償金。

Damages equals money.

損害賠償等於金錢。

A criminal case is where a government prosecutes someone

刑事案件是指政府起訴某人

to prove them guilty of committing a crime,

以證明他們有罪、

like a car thief.

就像偷車賊一樣

The victim of this crime is often

這種犯罪的受害者往往是

a witness in the government's case against the accused,

是政府指控被告案件的證人、

as well as any eyewitnesses.

以及任何目擊者。

In a civil case, the court can judge

在民事案件中，法院可以判決

that a defendant owes the plaintiff

被告欠原告的

money, or other property, or must perform

金錢或其他財產，或必須履行

a service that was promised.

承諾的服務。

Mostly, though, it's money.

不過，最主要的還是錢。

Reimbursement, compensation, or punitive damages.

補償、賠償或懲罰性賠償。

However, a judge in a civil case cannot send a defendant

但在民事案件中，法官不能將被告

to jail, barring a few exceptions,

入獄，只有少數例外、

usually regarding the intentional violation of court

通常涉及故意違反法院

orders.

訂單。

In a criminal case, either the prosecutor or a grand jury

在刑事案件中，檢察官或大陪審團

initiates the proceedings.

提起訴訟。

Punishment for guilty defendants can

對有罪被告的懲罰可以是

range from fines, community service,

罰款、社區服務等、

or educational classes, to much more serious consequences,

或教育課程，以至更嚴重的後果、

such as jail time.

比如坐牢。

And anyone, including the defendant,

任何人，包括被告、

can be called as a witness in a civil case,

可以在民事案件中被傳喚為證人、

whereas in a criminal case, they cannot be forced to.

而在刑事案件中，不能強迫他們這樣做。

Also, criminal cases generally have a higher burden

此外，刑事案件的負擔一般較重

of proof than civil cases.

比民事案件的舉證要求更高。

This is mainly because a person's freedom is at stake.

這主要是因為這關係到一個人的自由。

Prosecutors have to work that much harder to show guilt.

檢察官必須付出更大的努力來證明自己有罪。

They must prove that the defendant

他們必須證明被告

is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

他的罪行確鑿無疑。

A plaintiff in a civil case, however,

然而，民事案件的原告、

only needs to prove that they should

只需證明他們應該

win by a preponderance of the evidence.

在證據確鑿的情況下獲勝。

Preponderance just means the greater amount, or weight,

優勢 "只是指數量或重量較大、

of the evidence when taking into account

在考慮到

the believability of that evidence.

證據的可信度。

For more details on the differences between types

有關不同類型的詳細信息

of cases, or anything having to do with court in any way,

或任何與法庭有關的事情、

Legal You is your go-to resource.

Legal You 是您的首選資源。