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").
Middletown (formerly, Middle Station and Middleton) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Lake County, California, United States. Middletown is located 11 miles (18 km) west of Lower Lake, at an elevation of 1099 feet (335 m). The population was 1,020 at the 2000 census. Middletown was given its name because it is halfway between Lower Lake to the north and Calistoga to the south.