united-states criminal-law civil-law common-law
What are the regulatory equivalents of &quot;prosecute&quot; and &quot;convict&quot;?
<p>If I understand correctly, the terms &quot;prosecute,&quot; &quot;convict,&quot; &quot;guilty,&quot; and &quot;innocent&quot; are only used in criminal cases. What are the equivalents in cases of civil violations, such as traffic infractions or violations of radio regulations?</p>

<p>For a civil infraction, the typical term is found <em>responsible/not responsible</em>.</p>
<p>For example, Michigan <a href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(4m5zzvcltoeco5jt2ad4cnti))/mileg.aspx?page=GetObject&amp;objectname=mcl-600-113" rel="noreferrer">MCL 600.113(1)(b)</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>(b) &quot;Civil infraction action&quot; means a civil action in which the defendant is alleged to be responsible for a civil infraction.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>For violations of Federal regulations, as in the FCC example, the term is found <em>in violation/not in violation</em>.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/95.313" rel="noreferrer">47 CFR § 95.313(b)</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>If a Federal court finds that a Personal Radio Service station operator has willfully and knowingly violated any FCC rule, the operator may be fined up to $500 for each violation...</p>
</blockquote>

<p>They aren't exact parallels, but I'd say the best equivalents would be &quot;sue,&quot; &quot;hold liable,&quot; &quot;liable,&quot; and &quot;not liable.&quot;</p>
