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").
Stevinson is an unincorporated community in Merced County, California. It is located 20 miles (32 km) west of Merced, at an elevation of 85 feet (26 m). The Stevinson post office opened in 1907. The name honors James J. Stevinson, who bought land nearby in 1852.