Criminal law violations, known as crimes, are dealt with beginning with police making an arrest or issuing a citation for a violation, the violation being brought before a criminal judge by the State or District Attorney or Solicitor (Prosecutor) in the proper jurisdiction, and the Defendant either being exonerated for the offense, or being punished in the way of a fine and/or jail time, probation or community supervision with specific terms and condition applicable, prison time, or the death penalty.
Civil violations are dealth with by one or more persons or entities, known as the Plaintiff, who brings forth action against another or more persons or entities before a civil judge, who will then decide who gets what in terms of money.