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").
The historic Town of Springfield is a Statutory Town that is the County seat and most populous town of Baca County, Colorado, United States. The population was 1,562 at the 2000 census. The town was named for Springfield, Missouri, the origin of early settlers to the town. According to the Plainsman Herald from March 1988, the Town was settled in 1888 or 1889 by Frank Pierce Tipton (DPOB 10 Dec 1852, Gallopolis, Ohio) who had travelled to Springfield from Moulton, Iowa via Springfield, MO in 1886 or 1887 in a covered wagon. Frank Tipton secured the title to 80 acres (320,000 m) which was the original town site. Springfield has one school district which is RE-4. The Superintendent, and elementary principal is Mike Page, and the High School principal is Richard Hargrove. The town has one library.