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").
Geneva is a distant suburb of Chicago located in extreme eastern Kane County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 19,515. It is the county seat of Kane County. Geneva is also has a good school district. Geneva is a popular tourist destination with its scenic location along the Fox River and numerous shops and restaurants. Geneva has a station on the Union Pacific/West line of the Metra commuter rail system which provides frequent service to downtown Chicago, 36 miles (58 km) away. There is an extensive bike trail system in Geneva including portions of the Fox River Trail and the Illinois Prairie Path. Geneva has an active historical society, the Geneva History Center, located in downtown Geneva as well as the Fabyan Windmill, an old Dutch windmill dating back to the 1850s. Geneva is part of a tri-city area, along with St. Charles and Batavia. The area is currently experiencing a high level of population growth as Chicago's urban sprawl spreads farther west. Once considered one of Chicago's farthest west suburbs, Geneva is now becoming less so as farther west suburban locales such as La Fox and Elburn quickly develop. The city is home to the Kane County Cougars baseball club of the Midwest League.