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").
Shongaloo is a village in Webster Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 162 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Minden Micropolitan Statistical Area. West of Shongaloo on Louisiana Highway 2 is Munn Hill, a homestead of Dale and Rebecca Munn, established on July 26, 1900. Three Christian crosses are displayed on the top of the hill. Shongaloo has a civic center for town council meetings as well as general usage. There is an adjacent museum with a restored log cabin.