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").
Clermont is a city in Fayette County, Iowa, United States. The population was 716 at the 2000 census. Clermont is home to Montauk, the mansion of former Iowa governor William Larrabee, along with much historic architecture. Scenes for the movie The Straight Story were filmed here.