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").
Montpelier is an unincorporated community in eastern Muscatine County, Iowa, United States. Located along Iowa Highway 22, it lies on the Mississippi River above the city of Muscatine, the county seat of Muscatine County. Its elevation is 568 feet (173 m), and it is located at 41°27′33″N 90°48′26″W / 41.45917°N 90.80722°W / 41.45917; -90.80722 (41.4591974, -90.8070883). Montpelier's post office was first established under the name of Iowa on 1836-04-19, changed to Montpelier on 1839-04-01, and discontinued on 1846-02-11. Although it was reestablished on 1882-02-28, it was finally discontinued on 1986-02-18, when it was attached to the Blue Grass post office. Although its post office is gone, Montpelier retains its own ZIP Code, 52759. The community is part of the Muscatine Micropolitan Statistical Area.