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").
Bossier City is a city in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, United States. "Bossier City, Louisiana (LA) Detailed Profile" (notes), City Data, 2007, webpage: C-BC. "Census 2000 Data for the State of Louisiana" (town list), US Census Bureau, May 2003, webpage: C2000-LA. As of the 2000 Census, the city had a total population of 56,461. Bossier City is closely tied to its larger sister city Shreveport, located on the western bank of the Red River. The Shreveport-Bossier City metropolitan area is the center of the region known as the Ark-La-Tex. Bossier is pronounced /ˈboʊʒər/, bō′·zhər. It is not the parish seat. The parish courthouse is located instead in Benton to the north of Bossier City.