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").
For other places called Wilmington, see Wilmington (disambiguation) South Wilmington is a village in Grundy County, Illinois, United States. The population was 621 at the 2000 census. Although the name might indicate close proximity to the city of Wilmington, South Wilmington is in fact approximately 11 miles southwest of Wilmington, and is separated from it by several communities, including Gardner, Braceville, Godley, and Braidwood.