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").
Fertile is a city in Polk County, Minnesota, United States. It is part of the "Grand Forks-ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area". The population was 893 at the 2000 census. The annual Polk County Fair is held in Fertile and dates back to 1900.