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").
Bellevue (French for "Beautiful View") is a city in Sarpy County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 44,382 at the 2000 census. Eight miles south of Omaha, Bellevue is part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area. Incorporated in 1855, it is the oldest city in Nebraska.