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").
Westmorland (formerly, Westmoreland) is a city in Imperial County, California, United States. Westmorland is located 8.5 miles (14 km) southwest of Calipatria, The population was 2,131 at the 2000 census. It is part of the 'El Centro Metropolitan Area'. Westmorland is on State Route 86, which was upgraded to a new six-lane highway to reduce its infamous auto accident and fatality risk, while it connects with Brawley, El Centro and Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. The post office, originally called Westmoreland, opened in 1909, closed in 1912, re-opened in 1919, renamed to Westmorland in 1936. Westmorland incorporated in 1934. From the 1920s through the 1950s Westmorland was the site of illegal gaming establishments and many brothels, but these were later destroyed in an attempt to improve the town's image. Westmorland has dealt with the image of high poverty rates and prior to the 1990s North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) economic boom, a nearly dead farm food shipping industry.