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").
Mexico Beach is a city in Bay County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,017 at the 2000 census. As of 2005, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 1,192. It is part of the Panama City–Lynn Haven–Panama City Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area.