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").
Laporte (also spelled LaPorte) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Larimer County, Colorado, United States. The population was 2,691 at the 2000 census. The Laporte Post Office has the ZIP Code 80535. The community is located on the Cache La Poudre River northwest of Fort Collins, near the place where the river emerges from the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.