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").
Amsterdam is a city located in Montgomery County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 18,355. The name is derived from the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The city of Amsterdam is surrounded on the north, east, and west sides by the town of Amsterdam and is on the banks of the Mohawk River. The majority of the city lies on the north bank, but the Port Jackson area on the south side is also part of the city.