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").
Crystal City is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,538 at the estimated 2008 census. It was 4,247 at the 2000 census. Crystal City and its neighbor Festus are often collectively known as the "Twin Cities"; however, they are incorporated separately.