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").
Becker is a city in Sherburne County, Minnesota, between the Mississippi and Elk Rivers. The population was 2,673 at the 2000 census. The 2007 estimate was 4,093. U.S. Route 10 serves as a main route in the city.