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").
East Longmeadow is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States situated in the Pioneer Valley region of Western Massachusetts. East Longmeadow is bordered by Enfield and Somers, Connecticut, on the south; Hampden on the east; Wilbraham on the northeast; Springfield on the north and northwest; and Longmeadow on the west. East Longmeadow is 25 miles north of Hartford, 5 miles south of Springfield, 88 miles southwest of Boston, and 142 miles north of New York City. East Longmeadow is part of the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. East Longmeadow was first settled in 1720 and was officially incorporated in 1894. East Longmeadow and Longmeadow compete in an annual Thanksgiving Day football game that routinely attracts a few thousand spectators. The town is also the home to the 2007 Western Massachusetts champions in Varsity High School Baseball. East Longmeadow hosts an annual Fourth of July Parade. It is the largest Fourth of July parade in western Massachusetts. East Longmeadow High School also serves as host to an annual Fourth of July fireworks display, traditionally held on July 3.