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").
Berkshire is a town in Tioga County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, it had a population of 1,366. The town is named after Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The Town of Berkshire is in the northeast part of the county and is northwest of Binghamton, NY.