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").
Elwin is an unincorporated community in the city of Decatur, Illinois, located in Macon County, Illinois. The community is located on U.S. Route 51 in the central portion of the county. Elwin was named after its founders Elwood and Martin. As of 2009, Elwin's population is 163 people. Since the 2000 United States Census, it has had a population growth of -1.72 percent.