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").
Nampa is the largest and the fastest growing city in Canyon County, Idaho, USA. It is now the second largest in the state, passing the eastern Idaho cities of Idaho Falls and Pocatello in the late 1990s. Only the capital city, Boise, is larger. The population of Nampa was 51,867 at the 2000 census, and was estimated to be 79,249 as of July 1, 2007. Nampa is located about 20 miles (32 km) west of Boise along Interstate 84, and six miles (10 km) west of Meridian. Nampa is part of the Boise metropolitan area. The name "Nampa" came from a Shoshone word whose meaning is either moccasin or footprint.