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").
Silver Creek is a village located in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 2,896. The village is named after a small river that runs through the village. The Village of Silver Creek is on the shore of Lake Erie and within the Town of Hanover.