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").
Calera is a city in Chilton and Shelby counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. The population was 3,158 at the 2000 census, but as of 2008 the population has tripled to 10,742 making it the fastest growing city in Alabama.