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").
Portage is a city in Portage Township, Porter County, Indiana, United States. The population was 36,505 as of the 2007 Population Estimates issued by the United States Census Bureau. It is the largest city in Porter County, Indiana, and third largest in Northwest Indiana.