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").
Potomac is a census-designated place (CDP) in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, named for the nearby Potomac River. The population was 44,822 at the 2000 census. The Potomac area is known for its very affluent and highly-educated residents. CNNMoney. com placed Potomac seventh on its list of top-earning American towns for 2008, one place ahead of neighboring McLean, Virginia. Potomac is also the seventh top-educated American small town according to Forbes. Many Potomac residents work in Washington, D.C..