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").
Pevely is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The 2008 estimated population is 5,808. The population was 3,768 at the 2000 census. Charles S. Rankin founded the city in September 1860; the origin of the name was originally Pevely Springs named after an early inhabitant then later shortened to Pevely.