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").
Dunkirk is a city in Chautauqua County, New York in the USA. The population was 13,131 at the 2000 census. Dunkirk is on shore of Lake Erie and shares a border with the village of Fredonia. The city is surrounded by the town of Dunkirk. The National Guard has a base in Dunkirk.