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").
Thurmond is an unincorporated community in western Surry County, North Carolina along the border with Wilkes County. The community lies between US Highway 21 and the Mitchell River. Thurmond has an elevation of 1,402 feet above sea level.