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").
Cloudcroft is a village in Otero County, New Mexico and is within the Lincoln National Forest. The population was 749 at the 2000 census. At 8,600 feet (2,600 m) above sea-level in an otherwise arid region, the mild summer makes it a popular tourist attraction in West Texas and New Mexico. It was named by Fodors in 2002 as the Number 3 "Most Overlooked and Underrated Destination Spot. " Tourism remains the primary economic driver of the village. Two large ground terminals for the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System are located near Cloudcroft, and are a source of high-technology employment. Several communities linked with Cloudcroft: Weed, Lost Lodge, Sunspot, Mayhill, Piñon, and Timberon.