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").
Joliet is a city in Will and Kendall Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, located 40 miles (64 km) southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County. The city’s population at the time of the 2000 U.S. Census was 106,221. Based on the population estimates as a result of a 2008 Special Census, Joliet boasts 152,812 residents. It continues to be Illinois' fastest growing city and one of the fastest growing in the United States. Back when Joliet was first planned in the early 1830s, it was still in Cook County. In 1836, it became the county seat of the new Will County.