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").
Hinsdale is an affluent Chicago suburb located partly in Cook County and mainly DuPage County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 17,349 at the 2000 census. The town's ZIP code is 60521. The town has a rolling, wooded topography, with a quaint downtown that contains boutique shops and restaurants, and is a 20-minute train ride to downtown Chicago on the BNSF Railway Line. Hinsdale is also known for its excellent public school system, ranked among the best on all levels in the state of Illinois. In 2005, all its elementary schools were ranked in the top 25 in the state.