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").
Mebane is a city located mostly in Alamance County, North Carolina, United States, with a part of it in Orange County, North Carolina. It is part of the Burlington, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. The current population estimate (2008) is 10,624. According to the Official website of Mebane, NC, the town was named for General Alexander Mebane, Jr. , a Revolutionary War figure and member of the U. S. Congress. It was incorporated as Mebanesville in 1881, then the name was changed to Mebane. In 1987, the official name became the City of Mebane.