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").
Vanduser is a village in Scott County, Missouri, United States. The population was 217 at the 2000 census. The zip code is 63784. On May 15, 1986, a tornado hit Vanduser, killing a man when it destroyed his mobile home. Almost every building in the town of 350 people was damaged. "The whole town is virtually gone," the mayor said regarding the aftermath. On the same day, a tornado also struck the nearby city of Sikeston.