Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihldt.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!ihnp4!ihldt!stewart
From: stewart@ihldt.UUCP (R. J. Stewart)
Newsgroups: net.legal
Subject: Re: Criminal Prosecution
Message-ID: <2450@ihldt.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 10-Aug-84 10:27:47 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihldt.2450
Posted: Fri Aug 10 10:27:47 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 11-Aug-84 00:28:55 EDT
References: <1238@sdcrdcf.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 20

> A friend of mine recently told me that, altho a citizen can initiate
> civil legal action, the executive branch of govn is the only one
> which can handle criminal legal action. Is this true?

As best I can tell from some classes I've had, this is true (assuming
all states work about the same).  In fact, a criminal action is
considered to be a crime against the state, not against a person.  For
example, if I violate the law by punching someone in the nose, my crime
was that I violated the state penal code; the person I punched is merely
a witness to the crime.

The origin of this is unclear.  It seems to have its advantages and
disadvantages.

Bob Stewart
ihldt!stewart


Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer.  The contents of this article represent
            a layman's opinion.