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").
West Monroe is a city in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 13,250 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area. West Monroe is situated on the Ouachita River, just across from the neighboring city of Monroe (pop. 53,107). The two cities are often referred to as the Twin Cities of northeast Louisiana. It was originally named Trenton. Recently there has been an aborning interest in renaming the city Trenton.