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").
Davidsonville is an unincorporated community in central Anne Arundel County, Maryland, USA. It is a semi-rural community comprised mostly of farms and suburban-like developments and is a good example of an "exurb. " Davidsonville has relatively little commercial development and no high-density housing. The community is generally not served by public water, sewer or natural gas utilities, so homes generally employ well-and-septic systems. The nominal, if not geographic, center of Davidsonville is the intersection of Maryland routes 424 (Davidsonville Rd. ) and 214 (Central Ave. ), located at 38°55′22″N 76°37′42″W / 38.9229°N 76.6284°W / 38.9229; -76.6284.