What type of penalties are handled by criminal courts?

Criminal courts are specifically designed to handle cases that involve violations of criminal law, which is where the concept of criminal penalties comes into play. These penalties are imposed on individuals found guilty of committing crimes, ranging from misdemeanors to felonies. These can include incarceration, probation, fines, community service, or even the death penalty in certain jurisdictions. The primary aim of criminal penalties is to punish the offender and deter future crimes, reflecting society's condemnation of the behavior in question.

In contrast, civil penalties pertain to non-criminal disputes often involving individuals or organizations where the goal is typically restitution or compensation, rather than punishment. Administrative penalties are typically imposed by governmental agencies and relate to regulatory compliance issues, rather than criminal behavior. Financial penalties, while they can exist in both civil and criminal contexts, do not fully encompass the punitive aspects and range of a criminal penalty, which can include various forms of imprisonment or restrictions on rights. This specialization of criminal courts is what makes criminal penalties the correct answer.