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").
Karlstad is a city in Kittson County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 794 at the 2000 census. U.S. Route 59 and Minnesota State Highway 11 are two of the main arterial routes in the city. The current mayor is Nick Amb (elected 2006). The city's slogan is "The Moose Capitol of the North".