What is true about criminal complaints?

A criminal complaint refers to a formal accusation made by a governmental authority asserting that someone has committed a crime. This statement is true because criminal complaints typically arise when an individual is believed to have engaged in conduct that violates laws established for the protection of society as a whole. This includes crimes ranging from theft and assault to more serious offenses like murder.

The justification behind this choice is that criminal complaints are fundamentally about protecting public safety and addressing offenses that disrupt social order, thereby highlighting the broader impact on society, rather than any individual grievance. In this context, when a crime occurs, the offense is seen as an affront not just to the specific victim but to the community, thus involving societal interests in prosecuting the case.

The other choices do not accurately capture the nature of criminal complaints. For example, while government officials do typically initiate criminal complaints, they are not exclusive to them, and individuals can also report crimes. Additionally, criminal matters are generally not settled through civil courts, as civil courts handle private disputes and civil liabilities rather than criminal liabilities. Lastly, criminal complaints can lead to fines or other penalties, contradicting the suggestion that they cannot result in fines. Hence, the statement regarding offenses against society is the accurate portrayal of criminal complaints.