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").
Pahrump is a census-designated place (CDP) in Nye County, Nevada, United States. The population was 29,631 as of the 2000 census, making it by far the largest settlement in the county. The town's motto is "Heart of the New Old West".