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").
Sandoval County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Mexico. The population was estimated at 113,772, a 25.6% increase from the population of 89,908 recorded at the 2000 census. The county seat is Bernalillo. It is part of the Albuquerque, New Mexico Metropolitan Statistical Area.