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").
Beatrice (with the stress on the a) is a city in Gage County, Nebraska, 40 miles (64 km) south of Lincoln on the Big Blue River. Named for the daughter of John F. Kinney, Beatrice Kinney, Beatrice is surrounded by rich agricultural country. Settled in 1859, Beatrice was incorporated as a town in 1871 and became a city two years later. In 1900, 7,875 people lived in Beatrice and 10,883 populated Beatrice in 1940. The population was 12,496 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Gage County. The city's name is pronounced "Bee-AT-russ". This pronunciation is credited to a brass-voiced railroad conductor.