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").
Northwood is a city in Worth County, Iowa, United States, along the Shell Rock River. The population was 2,050 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Worth County. Northwood is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.