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 city of Douglasville is the county seat of Douglas County, Georgia, United States. The population was 20,065 at the 2000 census and in 2009 was estimated to be at 32,812. Douglasville is one of the fastest growing cities in Georgia.