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").
Mahnomen is a city in Mahnomen County, Minnesota, United States, along the Wild Rice River. The population was 1,202 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Mahnomen County. U.S. Route 59 and Minnesota State Highway 200 are two of the main arterial routes in the city.