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").
Waconia is a city in Carver County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 6,814 at the 2000 census. Located about 25 miles west of Minneapolis, Waconia has seen a surge in suburban development recently. The Carver County Fair is held in Waconia.