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").
Sikeston is a city located mostly in southern Scott County but also extends into parts of northern New Madrid County in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is situated just above the Bootheel although many locals consider it to be an actual part of the region. By way of Interstate 55, Sikeston is close to the halfway point between St. Louis and Memphis. The city is named after John Sikes who founded it in 1860. It is the principal city of the Sikeston Micropolitan Stastistical Area, which consists of all of Scott County and has a total population of 41,143. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 16,992, making it the second most populous city in Missouri's 8th Congressional district behind Cape Girardeau (population 35,349).