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").
Sterling is an unincorporated community in Burleigh County, North Dakota, United States at the intersection of Interstate 94 and U.S. Route 83. It is part of the "Bismarck, ND Metropolitan Statistical Area" or "Bismarck-Mandan". Sterling's US Postal Code is 58572. Sterling was not a census-designated place in the 2000 census.