Criminal action
Black's Law Dictionary · Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
Black's Law Dictionary
The proceeding by which a party charged with a public offense is accused and brought to trial and punishment is known as a "criminal action."
Pen. Code Cal. § 683.
A criminal action is (1) an action prosecuted by the state as a party, against a person charged with a public offense, for the punishment thereof ; (2) an action prosecuted by the state, at the instance of an individual, to prevent an apprehended crime, against hls person or property.
Co.de N. C. 1883, § 129. State v. Railroad Co.. (C. Ct) 37 Fed. 497 , 3 L. R. A. 554; Ames v. Kansas, 111 U. S. 449 , 4 Sup. Ct. 437, 28 L. Ed. 482; State v. Costello, 61 Co.nn. 497, 23 Atl. 868.