One instituted and conducted for the purpose either of preventing the commission of crime, or for fixing the guilt of a crime already committed and punishing the offender; as distinguished from a “civil” proceeding, which is for the redress of a private injury, r. S. v. Lee Huen CD. C.l 118 Fed. 442 : Sevier v. Washington County Justices. Peck (Tenn.) 334: People v. Ontario County. 4 Denio (N. Y.) 260.
Black’s Law Online Dictionary
