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").
San Marcos is a city in the North County section of San Diego County, California. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 83,149. Outside the San Diego region, it is best known as the home of California State University, San Marcos. The city is bordered by Escondido to the southeast, Encinitas to the Southwest, Carlsbad to the west, and Vista to the northwest.