Definitions of the difference between criminal liability and civil liability:

Criminal liability can be described as damages from criminal dispositions which impact the society while damage from civil dispositions impacts individuals.  The penalty which follows criminal dispositions is punishment as prescribed by the law, while the penalty which follows civil liability is a financial compensation.

Public Prosecution is the only authorised entity to request punishment on criminal liability. With civil liability the injured party is the one who claims compensation.   In criminal liability, public prosecution or injured party may not compromise or waive the punishment prescribed by the law; this is due to the fact that it is involved with the rights of society.   Within civil liability cases the injured party or debtor may compromise or waive such compensation given the fact that it is a personal right of the injured party or the debtor.