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").
Beltsville is an unincorporated area and census-designated place (CDP) in northern Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 15,691 at the 2000 census. The Beltsville CDP includes the unincorporated community of Vansville.