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").
Planada (formerly, Geneva and Whitton) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Merced County, California, United States. Planada is located 9 miles (14 km) east of Merced, at an elevation of 226 feet (69 m). The population was 4,369 at the 2000 census.