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").
Oneonta is a city in southern Otsego County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, had a population of 13,292. Its nickname is "City of the Hills. " The word "oneonta" is of undetermined origin, but it is popularly thought to mean "place of open rocks" in the Iroquois language. This refers to a prominent geological formation known as "tablerocks" at the western end of the city. The city is surrounded by the town of Oneonta, a separate municipal and political unit. Oneonta is home to the State University of New York at Oneonta and Hartwick College. Oneonta Municipal Airport (N66) is north of the city.