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").
Chatham is a village in Sangamon County, Illinois, United States. The population was 8,583 at the 2000 census. A special census conducted in 2005 put the population at 10,260. The village lies along the original alignment of historic U.S. Route 66. Chatham is part of the Springfield, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.