Why is it when someone loans someone something that isn't returned it's a civil matter? But if someone doesn't return a library book it's criminal?

[SpokenTruth]

Why is it when someone loans someone else something and they don't return it then it's said to be a civil matter? However when someone borrows something from a library such as a book a DVD CD etc etc, then it's criminal?

[Anonymous]

Well a verbal contract is not worth the paper it's written on. You the lender choose to take a risk and lend that person your own personal money. So it's up to you to take it to civil court. I can't imagine the police landing at your door over an overdue library book.

[SpokenTruth]

And how about written contracts? Example. A renter signs a contract with the owner to live in a place. The renter doesn't pay and then the owner has to take the renter to court and go through a process to get the renter to leave. That's a written contract right there.

[Opinion Owner]

Yes but it's a civil matter and tenants have rights too. You rent your property to someone its you taking the risk

[SpokenTruth]

Lending books DVD's etc etc is a risk with rights involved too. So again, why is it different?

[Opinion Owner]

Again i can't see police kicking down your door and arresting you over an overdue book or it going to court. Usually they just set overdue fines. I mean it would be a waste of the courts time.
If you don't pay your loan back to your bank they pay to take you to court don't they?

[SpokenTruth]

There's more than those two but there you are.

www.foxnews.com/.../texas-man-reportedly-arrested-due-to-overdue-library-book

consumerist.com/.../...to-return-library-book.html

[NathanDavis]

at a library... and even DVD rental stores, you are signing a contract of sorts

with people, you are just trusting

that is the difference

[NamerOfStars]

Because a library is a government institution, not a private one?

[SpokenTruth]

Yes exactly and why are they so special?

[NamerOfStars]

Because the agency that handles criminal matters is the same one that handles libraries.

[SpokenTruth]

I think it's done that way because they know what it takes to take someone to court the cost involved in it and the outcome even if they were to win. I think it's done in order to make people give up on justice is what I think. If anything it should be in the reverse.