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").
South Bethlehem is a hamlet in the town of Bethlehem, Albany County, New York. The hamlet sits on New York State Route 396 (Bridge Street) and lies southwest of the Selkirk Rail Yard and just north of the Coeymans town line.