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").
Great Bend is the most populous city in and the county seat of Barton County, Kansas, United States. The population was 15,345 at the 2000 census, and it was estimated to be 15,537 in the year 2006. The city was named for its location at the historic big bend of the Arkansas River. Great Bend is home to Barton Community College.