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").
Brighton is a village located mostly in Macoupin County, Illinois and partially in Jersey County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 2,196, and the population was 2,376 in the 2008 official US Census estimate. The village's current mayor is Wayne Schafer. Brighton is a part of the Metro-East region and the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area.