When distinguishing whether a fight is a civil or criminal case, the main basis is the consequences of the fight and the legal provisions involved.
If the injuries caused by a fight are only minor, then this is usually considered an ordinary case of peace and order, i.e., a civil dispute. The public security organs will impose corresponding public security administrative penalties, such as detention and fines, in accordance with the Public Security Administration Punishment Law. In this case, if the victim wishes to hold the other party responsible, he or she can claim damages through a civil lawsuit.
If, during the course of the fight, one of the parties has injuries that are minor or above, then the nature of the case changes. At this point, the other party's actions may be suspected of a criminal offense, such as intentional injury. The criminal investigation department of the public security organ will intervene in the investigation and impose a sentencing penalty on the suspect according to the specific circumstances of the injury (minor injury, serious injury, causing death). At this point, the nature of the case becomes a criminal case.
In addition to the degree of harm, other circumstances may also affect the nature of the case. For example, if the fight was fought in public, or if there were multiple participants, or if serious circumstances such as assault with a weapon were involved, then these factors could all cause the case to escalate from a civil dispute to a criminal case.
There is also a big difference in the way civil and criminal cases are handled and the procedures are followed. Civil cases are usually resolved through mediation, that is, under the auspices of **, the parties settle and reach an agreement on compensation. In criminal cases, the procuratorate prosecutes the suspect on behalf of the state, and in principle, it cannot be private. Even if the victim expresses forgiveness to the suspect, it is only for the court to refer to when sentencing.
To sum up, the key to distinguishing whether a fight is a civil case or a criminal case lies in the consequences of the fight and the legal provisions involved. If minor injuries or more are caused, or if there are other serious circumstances, then it may constitute a criminal offence and criminal liability is required. On the other hand, if only minor injuries are caused, then it is an ordinary public order case, and compensation for damages can be claimed through a civil lawsuit.