Which of the following offenses is typically prosecuted under criminal law rather than civil law?

• A. Tort action
• B. Robbery
• C. Civil infraction
• D. Contract dispute

Answer: (B)

Criminal law targets acts that threaten public safety and order and is pursued by the state, with penalties like imprisonment or fines. Robbery fits this because it involves taking someone’s property through force or intimidation and is viewed as a crime against society. Because it’s a crime, it’s prosecuted in criminal court by a government prosecutor on behalf of the people, not by a private party seeking damages.

The other options describe civil matters: a tort action aims to obtain monetary damages for harm caused by someone’s conduct; a civil infraction is a non-criminal violation often handled with fines in civil court; a contract dispute is resolved through civil remedies between private parties. Civil cases focus on compensation or specific performance rather than punishment, which is why robbery is the one typically handled criminally.