What areas of law does Jameson Stone handle?

Criminal defense, DUI defense, personal injury, real estate, estate planning and administration, and business law. Daniel Jameson leads the business, real estate, and estate planning work. Ethan Stone leads criminal defense, DUI, and personal injury, and also handles estate, real estate, and business matters. If a question falls outside those areas, the firm will say so plainly and point you toward someone who does handle it.

How does Jameson Stone charge for legal work?

It depends on the matter, and you will know before the work begins. The firm offers fixed price billing, project billing, flat fee work, and traditional retainers. Defined work like a will, an LLC formation, or a residential closing usually prices as a flat fee. Litigation is harder to predict, so the firm sets out the structure and the likely range at the consultation instead of letting a meter run in the background.

Which parts of Central Pennsylvania do you serve?

The firm works across Central Pennsylvania from its office on East Trindle Road in Camp Hill, which puts it close to the courthouses and county offices where most of its matters are filed. Real estate closings can be scheduled at whatever time and place suits the parties, so distance is rarely the constraint people expect it to be. If you are unsure whether your matter falls inside the firm's area, call and ask.

What should I bring to my first meeting?

Anything that documents the matter. For a criminal or DUI charge, that means the citation, the police paperwork, and any court notices. For an injury claim, bring the accident report, medical records, and correspondence from the insurer. For a business or real estate matter, bring contracts, deeds, and prior agreements. If you cannot find something, come anyway. Part of the first meeting is working out what still needs to be gathered.

How to Tell If Your Legal Problem Is Civil or Criminal?

The quickest way to tell is to ask who brought the case and what is at stake. A criminal case is filed by the government, and the risk is a fine, probation, or jail. A civil case is filed by a person or a business, and the risk is money or a court order, not jail. Criminal law punishes acts against society, like theft or DUI. Civil law settles private disputes, like a car crash claim or a broken contract. In Central Pennsylvania, the same event can sometimes lead to both at once. This article explains the differences in plain terms, gives clear examples, shows what each type can cost you, and helps you know which kind of lawyer you need.

The Simple Difference Between Civil and Criminal Cases

The split comes down to three questions. Who filed the case? What is the goal? And what can you lose?

A criminal case is brought by the government against a person accused of breaking the law. The goal is to punish and to protect the public. A civil case is brought by one party against another to settle a dispute or recover a loss. The goal is to make things right, usually with money. Criminal cases can take your freedom. Civil cases usually take or award money instead.

Civil vs Criminal at a Glance

The table below lays out the main differences side by side.

Feature	Criminal Case	Civil Case
Who brings it	The government, through a prosecutor	A person or a business
Main goal	Punish a crime and protect the public	Settle a dispute or recover a loss
Standard of proof	Beyond a reasonable doubt	More likely than not
Possible outcome	A fine, probation, or jail	Money damages or a court order
Common examples	DUI, theft, assault	Injury claims, contracts, divorce
Lawyer you need	A criminal defense lawyer	A civil lawyer for that area

Who Brings the Case and Why It Matters

In a criminal case, the government is the one accusing you. That is why criminal cases carry names like “Commonwealth versus Smith.” A prosecutor, not the victim, decides whether to charge and what to charge. Even if the victim wants to drop it, the government can press on.

In a civil case, a private party files the claim. It could be a neighbor, a customer, an insurance company, or a former business partner. They ask the court for money or an order, and they run the case themselves. No one goes to jail as a result of a civil claim.

The Burden of Proof Is Different

The amount of proof needed sets these two apart more than anything else. The bar is much higher in a criminal case.

The U.S. Supreme Court requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt to convict someone of a crime. That is the highest standard in law, because a person’s freedom is on the line. A civil case uses a lower standard, often called the preponderance of the evidence. It simply asks whether a claim is more likely true than not.

This gap explains a surprising result. The same event can lose in criminal court yet win in civil court. A jury may find there is reasonable doubt about guilt, so it acquits. A civil jury, needing only “more likely than not,” can still hold the same person responsible and order them to pay.

What Each Type of Case Can Cost You

The stakes differ sharply. A criminal case can end in jail, and Pennsylvania sets clear limits by the grade of the offense.

According to Pennsylvania’s Crimes Code, the maximum prison terms run as follows.

Offense Grade	Maximum Prison Term
Summary offense	Up to 90 days
Misdemeanor, third degree	Up to 1 year
Misdemeanor, second degree	Up to 2 years
Misdemeanor, first degree	Up to 5 years
Felony, third degree	Up to 7 years
Felony, second degree	Up to 10 years
Felony, first degree	Up to 20 years

A criminal case can also leave a record that follows you for years and shows up in job and housing checks. A civil case works differently. The usual result is a payment of money damages or a court order to do or stop doing something. There is no jail and, in most cases, no criminal record.

Common Examples in Central Pennsylvania

Sorting real situations into the right bucket is easier with examples. Here is how the two sides tend to look.

Criminal matters include:

A DUI case after a traffic stop
Theft, retail theft, or shoplifting
Assault or a bar fight
Drug possession or delivery charges

For any of these, you need a lawyer who handles a criminal case from the first court date forward.

Civil matters include:

A personal injury lawsuit after a crash or a fall
A commercial dispute over a contract or a partnership
A property dispute over a boundary, a title, or a lease
A divorce, custody, or support case

When One Event Is Both Civil and Criminal

Some events land in both courts at the same time. A drunk driving crash is the clearest example. The driver can face a criminal DUI charge brought by the state. The injured person can also file a civil claim to recover medical bills and lost pay.

These two cases run on separate tracks. One is about punishment, the other about paying for harm. A driver could be found not guilty in criminal court yet still be ordered to pay in civil court, because the civil standard is lower. Knowing that both can happen helps you plan for each one.

Which Court Handles Your Case?

In Pennsylvania, most serious cases of both kinds are heard in the Court of Common Pleas. This is the main trial court in each county, and it handles felonies, major civil claims, and family matters.

Smaller matters start in front of a Magisterial District Judge. These local courts handle minor criminal offenses, traffic citations, and smaller civil claims. Where your case begins depends on the type and the size of the dispute.

Which Lawyer Do You Need?

The type of case points to the type of lawyer. A criminal charge calls for a criminal defense lawyer who knows the local courts and prosecutors. A civil dispute calls for a lawyer who works in that specific area, such as injury, real estate, or business law.

This is where a firm that handles both sides helps. The Central Pennsylvania legal team at a full-service firm can take a criminal case, a civil claim, or an event that becomes both. You get one point of contact instead of two separate searches for help.

Final Thoughts

Telling civil from criminal comes down to a few clear questions. Who filed the case, what is the goal, and what can you lose. Criminal cases come from the government and can cost you your freedom. Civil cases come from a private party and usually involve money. One event can even trigger both, each with its own rules.

If you are unsure which kind of issue you face in Central Pennsylvania, a short talk can sort it out. Jameson Stone Law offers a free consultation at its Camp Hill office on East Trindle Road. Bring the papers you have received, learn where you stand, and find out exactly which kind of help you need. Call the firm today to get a clear answer.