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").
Washington is a city in Beaufort County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 12,946 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat of Beaufort County. The closest major city is Greenville, approximately 20 miles to the west. Established in 1776 in land donated by Col. James Bonner, Washington is the first city named after George Washington, the first president of the United States.