civil contempt vs. criminal contempt
Defined in 1 dictionary — Case Law
Definitions from Case Law
From 384 U.S. 364 - Shillitani v. United States · 1966Most cited · 2,479 citing opinions
It is not the fact of punishment, but rather its character and purpose, that often serve to distinguish civil from criminal contempt. The test may be stated as: what does the court primarily seek to accomplish by imposing sentence? While any imprisonment, of course, has punitive and deterrent effects, it must be viewed as remedial if the court conditions release upon the contemnor's willingness to testify.