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").
District Heights is an incorporated city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, located near Maryland Route 4. The population was 5,958 at the 2000 census. For more information, see the separate articles on Forestville, Maryland and Suitland. District Heights is 9.85 miles away from central Washington, DC.