Civil law is being increasingly used to avoid rights. Right to a lawyer, right to proof beyond a reasonable doubt, right to be present at your hearing, etc. We see it with this, we see it with red flag laws, we see it with the abused of restraining orders in divorces.
If they can't get it done in criminal court because rights get in the way, then they just create a civil path for it.
A great example of this circumvention is Texas permitting civil cases to target individuals that get abortions, because their criminal laws got stomped as unconstitutional.
If they can't get it done in criminal court because rights get in the way, then they just create a civil path for it.