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").
Cumberland is a city in the far western portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 21,591. Cumberland is a regional business and commercial center for Western Maryland and the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia. Cumberland is also known for being the city in which the Baked Potato was invented.