Final answer:
A civil penalty is a non-criminal fine or punishment imposed by a court or regulatory agency for violating legal statutes. It serves to compensate and deter rather than punish through incarceration and is typically used in civil law cases to uphold social norms and order.
Step-by-step explanation:
A civil penalty is a fine or other form of punishment imposed by a regulatory agency or court against an individual or entity for the violation of legal statutes that are not classified as criminal offenses. Unlike criminal penalties, which are meant to punish and deter criminal activities and involve prosecution by the government, a civil penalty often pertains to less serious infractions and is primarily focused on compensation and deterrence rather than incarceration. Civil penalties can be seen as formal sanctions in the legal system and serve to maintain social order by penalizing non-compliance with laws and regulations.
Civil penalties are enforced in civil law cases that typically involve disputes between two or more private parties, with at least one alleging harm caused by the other's actions. This is distinct from criminal law, where the government brings charges against a person or entity for actions deemed harmful to society as a whole. Moreover, civil penalties can be used to encourage behaviors that align with societal norms, for instance, reinforcing the civic duty to pay taxes. Civil disobedience, on the other hand, is a non-violent, conscientious act of breaking the law to bring about change, with individuals willingly accepting the penalties for their actions.