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").
Boiling Springs is a town in Cleveland County, North Carolina, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 3,866. It is home to Gardner-Webb University. The Broad River runs along the south of the township, where the Broad River Greenway is located, providing recreational facilities, activities and trails. The town is named after the natural springs that are found on University property and which feed a small on-campus lake. It is on the outskirts of Shelby and only several miles from the North Carolina and South Carolina state boundary. Charlotte, about 32 miles east, is the largest nearby city.