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").
East Norwich is a hamlet located within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 2,675 at the 2000 census. East Norwich was originally named Norwich, until the postal service requested the name change to eliminate confusion from the other Norwich, in Chenango County. Noted former resident is author Thomas Pynchon.