What is a tort?

• A. A contract breach only.
• B. An administrative policy violation.
• C. A civil wrong where a person's action or inaction violates the rights of another.
• D. A criminal offense punishable by jail.

Answer: (C)

A tort is a civil wrong where one person’s action or inaction violates another person’s rights, and the harmed party can sue for damages or other civil remedies. This focuses on harm to people or their property and the legal duty to avoid causing that harm in the first place.

In practice, torts cover a broad range of harms, from negligence (like failing to maintain a safe environment, leading to an injury) to intentional acts (such as assault or false imprisonment). The key point is that tort law seeks to make the injured party whole through civil remedies, not to punish with criminal penalties or enforce contract terms.

This is different from contract breaches, which arise from failing to fulfill the terms of an agreement, or administrative policy violations, which are discipline under internal rules rather than civil claims. A criminal offense is a violation of criminal law punishable by penalties like jail, which is a separate civil/criminal pathway.

Context in corrections: if a prisoner is injured because a facility failed to fix a dangerous condition, or if a staff member uses force beyond what is legally allowed, those situations can trigger tort claims for negligence or intentional harm. The important concept is that torts involve civil liability for harming someone’s rights, with remedies focused on compensation or prevention rather than criminal punishment.