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").
Westover is a town in Shelby County, Alabama, United States. It was officially incorporated on January 31, 2001 and had an estimated population of 961 in 2007. Westover is located along the U.S. Highway 280 corridor in the northeastern quadrant of Shelby County. It is approximately 20 miles south of Birmingham and is part of the Birmingham–Hoover Metropolitan Statistical Area.