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").
Big Lake is a city in Sherburne County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 6,063 at the 2000 census. U.S. Route 10 and Minnesota State Highway 25 are two of the main arterial routes in the city.