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").
Linwood is a small unincorporated community just south of Lexington in Davidson County, North Carolina, United States. The area contains operations of several important companies in Davidson County, including Keply Hardwood, Legget-Platt, PPG Industries, and Kimberly Clark. Three major transportation systems serve the area: US Interstate 85, the Davidson County Airport, and Norfolk Southern Railway's Spencer classification yard. Linwood was named for the nearby plantation of William Rainey Holt (1798-1868), a physician and early innovator in farming techniques. Three sites in the National Register of Historic Places are located in the area: the Beallmont Building, the Jersey Baptist Church Cemetery, and the Jersey Settlement Meeting House. Part of the community (mainly the area industries) has been annexed by the city of Lexington. Public High Schools that have districts that are in Linwood are Central Davidson High School and West Davidson High School.