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").
Palo Verde is a small unincorporated community in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. It is located about 40 miles west of Phoenix, and 6 miles southwest of downtown Buckeye. Despite sharing a name, the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station is actually located in nearby Wintersburg. Palo Verde exists as a county island within the planning boundary of Buckeye. This precludes any possibility of incorporation for the community, but annexation into Buckeye is a possibility.