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").
Colfax is a small unincorporated community located in Guilford County, North Carolina. As of the 2000 census, the CDP had a population of 2,469. Colfax is located at (36.11, -80.01). The community is a suburb of Greensboro and is located in the center of the Piedmont Triad. Its main attraction is the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market, where people shop for fresh food from local farmers. Its main school is the Colfax Elementary School, which is part of the Guilford County School System. It is also the location of one of fifteen Piano and Organ Distributors, one of the largest piano sellers in the country. In 2000, the community attempted to incorporate, but failed after a joint commission found that the proposed limits were not sufficient for incorporation under North Carolina law, lacking under the population density requirement. On June 30, 2008 the city of Greensboro annexed the main part of Colfax into the city limits, though some of Colfax is still unincorporated.