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").
Crystal Lake is a city located in southeastern McHenry County in northeastern Illinois. It is named after Crystal Lake, a lake 1.6 miles (2.6 km) west-southwest of downtown. Crystal Lake is also a suburb of the city of Chicago. The population was 38,000 at the 2000 census, but as of 2008 the population is at 41,797. Crystal Lake is the biggest city in McHenry County.