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").
Acton is an unincorporated Census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California near the Antelope Valley. According to the 2000 census, the CDP had a population of 2,390, while the Greater Acton area (which includes the CDP) had a population of 9,175.