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").
Paincourtville is a census-designated place (CDP) in Assumption Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 884 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Pierre Part Micropolitan Statistical Area. Paincourtville was the birthplace of former Louisiana State Representative Frank Fulco, Sr. , of Shreveport, who served from 1956–1972 and was a known as a spokesman for Italian-American causes.