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").
Iota is a town in Acadia Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,376 at the 2000 census. Its previous names were "Pointe Aux Loups" (French for Wolves' Point) and "Cartville". Iota is part of the Crowley Micropolitan Statistical Area.