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").
Lake Hughes is an unincorporated community northwest of Palmdale, Los Angeles County, California, in the Angeles National Forest on the sag pond waters of Hughes Lake. The community is agricultural in character, with a population of 2,760 within its zip code, but also has a strong recreational element centered on its four lakes.