Criminal Action
A Dictionary of Law · Henry Campbell Black · 1891
A Dictionary of Law
The proceeding by which a party charged with a public offense is accused and bronght fo trial and punishment is known as 3 “criminal action.”
Pen. Code Cal. § 688.
A criminal action is (1) an action prosecuted by the state as a party, against a person echurged with a public offense, for the punishment thereof; (2) an action prosecuted by the stale, af the instance of an individual, to prevent an apprehended erie, against his person or property.
Code N.C, 1883, § 129.