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").
Bodfish is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kern County, California, United States. Bodfish is located 32 miles (51 km) east-northeast of Bakersfield, at an elevation of 2687 feet (819 m). The place was named for George Homer Bodfish, who settled nearby in 1867. The population was 1,823 at the 2000 census.