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").
Cottonwood Falls is the largest city and county seat of Chase County, Kansas. The population was 966 at the 2000 census, and it was estimated to be 955 in the year 2006. It is part of the Emporia Micropolitan Statistical Area.