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").
Marengo is a city in and the county seat of Iowa County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,535 at the 2000 census. It has served as the county seat since August 1845, even though it was not incorporated until July 1859.