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").
Willows (formerly, Willow) is the county seat of Glenn County, California. As the county seat, the town is a home to regional government offices, including the California Highway Patrol, California Department of Motor Vehicles and the United States Bureau of Reclamation. The population was 6,220 at the 2000 census.