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").
Piercy is an unincorporated community in Mendocino County, California. It is located on the South Fork of the Eel River 9 miles (14 km) north-northwest of Leggett, at an elevation of 794 feet (242 m). The first post office at Piercy opened in 1920. The name honors Sam Piercy, who settled there around 1900.