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").
Sparks is a city in Washoe County, Nevada, United States, located east of Reno, Nevada. The population was 66,346 at the 2000 census. As of July 1, 2008, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the population has grown to 88,602. It is often referred to as half of a twin city.