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").
Virden is a city in Macoupin and Sangamon counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 3,488 at the 2000 census. The Macoupin County portion of Virden is part of the St. Louis, Missouri–Illinois Metropolitan Statisical Area, while the Sangamon County portion is part of the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. The region around the Virden area is where the two metropolitan areas meet.