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").
Halifax is a town in Halifax County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 344 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Halifax County. It is also known as "The Birthplace of Freedom" for being the location for the adoption of the Halifax Resolves, which was the first official action by a colony calling for independence. Halifax is part of the Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina Micropolitan Statistical Area.