Final answer:
Security guards need to be aware of both criminal and civil law. Criminal law deals with offenses against the state and includes felonies and misdemeanors, whereas civil law addresses disputes between private parties where one alleges harm by the other.
Step-by-step explanation:
Security guards need to be well-versed in two types of law: criminal law and civil law. Criminal law is concerned with actions that are offenses against the state, or society as a whole, which are categorized as felonies or misdemeanors based on their severity, with felonies being more serious. Examples of offenses that fall under criminal law include theft or assault. When such a crime is committed, the government, whether state or national, charges the individual and a case is brought to court.
On the other hand, civil law deals with disputes between private parties, where one party alleges harm or injury by the other. Civil cases do not involve charges of crimes, but instead focus on resolving claims or disputes over contracts, property, personal injury, or family law, among others. Security guards, in the course of their duties, may need to understand elements of both types of law as they might encounter situations involving criminal activity or disputes that could lead to civil litigation.