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 Quentin is a small unincorporated community in Marin County, California. It is located west of Point San Quentin, at an elevation of 30 feet (9 m). San Quentin is adjacent to San Quentin State Prison; located just east of the prison, it is also known as San Quentin Village or Point San Quentin Village. It has 40 single-family houses and a condominium complex with 10 units, and its population is about 100. The town was originally housing for the prison's employees and their families. Residents rent their driveways to media vans during controversial executions. The reporters are attracted to the place because it is the only place in California where prisoners are executed and many death penalty abolitionists appear and demonstrate against the practice. This garners much media attention. A post office operated at San Quentin for a time in 1859, and from 1862. The Tamal post office is a substation of the San Quentin post office. The village is served by Golden Gate Transit route 42 and 40 between Richmond and El Cerrito del Norte BART stations across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge in Contra Costa County and San Rafael Transit Center in downtown San Rafael. The community is in ZIP code 94964 and area code 415.