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").
Surprise is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. The population was 30,848 at the 2000 census; however, rapid growth has boosted the city's population to 90,717 by 2007, according to Census Bureau estimates. As such, it is the second fastest-growing municipality in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, and between 1990 and 2000, it was the sixth fastest-growing place among all cities and towns in Arizona. An estimate released by the city's Demographic and Permit Statistics department showed a population of 109,672 in December 2008.