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").
Black River is a village in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 1,285 at the 2000 census. The Village of Black River is on the border of the Town of Le Ray and the Town of Rutland. The village is east of Watertown.