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").
Artesia is a city in Eddy County, New Mexico, centered at the intersection of U.S. Route 82 and 285; the two highways serve as the city's Main Street and First Street, respectively. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 10,692. The town assumed its present name in 1903, after the discovery of an artesian aquifer in the area; artesian wells for agriculture flourished in the area until the aquifer became significantly depleted in the 1920s. The city was officially incorporated in 1905. Artesia was a candidate for ESPN's Titletown USA feature.