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").
Westport is a town located in Sand Creek Township, Decatur County, Indiana. The population was 1,515 at the 2000 census. The town was founded in 1836. A covered bridge, built in 1880, is located about 1.5 miles east of town.