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").
Westphalia is a city in Osage County, Missouri, United States. The population was 320 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Jefferson City, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. Westphalia is heavily influenced by the German heritage of the majority of its inhabitants. Many of the early settlers of the area came from the Westphalen area of Germany, hence the name. Many buildings are influenced by nineteenth century German architecture, and streets are labeled in both English and German. The center of population of Missouri is located in Westphalia .