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").
Honeydew (formerly, Honey Dew) is an unincorporated community in Humboldt County, California. It is located 17 miles (27 km) south of Scotia, at an elevation of 322 feet (98 m). Honeydew is home to less than 1,000 residents. Honeydew is located 15 miles (24 km) from the Pacific Ocean in an area that is known as "The Lost Coast". The Lost Coast is a section of the California North Coast in Humboldt County, which includes the King Range. The steepness and related geotechnical challenges of the coastal mountains made this stretch of coastline too costly for state highway or county road builders to establish routes through the area, leaving it the most undeveloped portion of the California coast.[1] State Route 1, which runs very close along the coast for most of the route's length, stops at Leggett and merges with U.S. Route 101 which runs several miles inland. Much of the land in the area known as the Lost Coast is owned by the federal government, and in 1970, more than 60,000 acres (240 km²) were designated the King Range National Conservation Area.[1] Because of the rugged and remote location, the small towns of Shelter Cove, Whitethorn and Petrolia are popular with those looking for quiet respite. The area is known for its black sand beaches, which get their color from the significant tectonic activity of one continental and two ocean plates meeting just offshore. The town is located in Southern Humboldt County, and is composed of little more than a general store, elementary school, post office, with a few houses located nearby. Many of the locals live in the hills surrounding the Mattole valley, that is named after the Mattole River, that runs through the valley. The ZIP Code is 95545. The community is inside area code 707. The first post office at Honeydew opened in 1926.