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").
Richwoods is an unincorporated community in northern Washington County, Missouri, United States. It is located just off Route 47 about fifteen miles west of De Soto and nineteen miles south of St. Clair. It is the home of former kidnapping victim Shawn Hornbeck.