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").
Hammond is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 1,207 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from early land owner Abijah Hammond. The Town of Hammond is in the northwest corner of St. Lawrence County. The Village of Hammond lies approximately centrally within the town.