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").
Speculator is a village in Hamilton County, New York, United States. The population was 348 at the 2000 census. The village is named after a nearby Speculator Mountain. The postal ZIP code is 12164. The Village of Speculator is the only incorporated village within Hamilton County and is within the Town of Lake Pleasant. The village lies on the north end of a lake, also called Lake Pleasant. The local inhabitants sometimes refer to the village as the "Four Corners," referring to the intersection of NYS Route 8 and NYS Route 30 in the middle of the business district. Speculator is within the Adirondack Park.