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").
Colfax is a city in Placer County, California, at the crossroads of Interstate 80 and State Route 174. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,496 at the 2000 census. The town is named in honor of Vice President Schuyler Colfax (1869-73) a bronze statue of whom stands on Main Street near the railroad station. Some of the town's notable features include the newly restored train depot (which houses a number of shops), the downtown shops on Main Street, and Colfax High School, which serves a large surrounding area.