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").
Sunset Beach is an unincorporated beachfront community northwest of Huntington Beach in Orange County, California. Southeast of Sunset Beach is Bolsa Chica State Beach. To the east is the bayfront community of Huntington Harbour (part of Huntington Beach), and roughly north is the Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, and the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge. The small gated community of Surfside located between Sunset Beach and the Weapons Station is part of Seal Beach, with the rest of Seal Beach on the other side of the Weapons Station. The Sunset Beach city limit signs indicate a population of 1,288 in 2007. Sunset Beach does not have residential mail delivery. Instead, residents pick up their mail at post office boxes in the centrally-located post office. Sunset Beach is served by the Sunset Beach Sanitary District. Orange County officials recently informed Sunset Beach it must become part of Huntington Beach; however, some residents are resisting this effort. The ZIP Code is 90742, and the community is inside area code 562.