In a criminal case, the state, through a prosecutor, initiates the suit, while in a civil case the victim brings the suit. Persons convicted of a crime may be incarcerated, fined, or both. Criminal defense attorneys represent clients who have been accused of committing a crime, and defend their rights at each stage of a misdemeanor or felony case -- from an arrest to an appeal after conviction. Criminal defense attorneys may be hired privately or provided by the government (called "public defenders").
Ariton is a town in Dale County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 772. According to the 2005 U.S. Census estimates, the town had a population of 755. Ariton is part of the Enterprise–Ozark Micropolitan Statistical Area.