Does criminal immunity extend to civil immunity?

Criminal immunity does not automatically extend to civil immunity due to the fundamentally different purposes and legal principles involved in criminal and civil proceedings. Criminal immunity is designed to protect individuals from prosecution for specific criminal acts, often to encourage cooperation with law enforcement or in exchange for testimony. This immunity does not negate the possibility of civil liability, where individuals may still be held accountable for damages resulting from their actions.

Civil cases operate under a different standard of proof and are concerned with the rights and obligations of individuals or entities rather than the government's interest in punishing wrongdoing. Therefore, a person who is granted immunity in a criminal case may still face civil lawsuits arising from the same conduct. Each situation must be assessed based on its unique facts, and the principles governing both criminal and civil law remain distinct. This separation is a key reason why criminal immunity does not extend to civil immunity.