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").
Ashland is a city in Boone County, Missouri, United States. (The term SoBoCo is sometimes used to refer to Southern Boone County. ) Ashland is part of the Columbia, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,869 at the 2000 census. The population in 2006 was about 3,000, according to the city's website.