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").
Stirum is an unincorporated community in northwestern Sargent County, North Dakota, United States. It lies a short distance to the south of North Dakota Highway 13, northwest of the city of Forman, the county seat of Sargent County. Its elevation is 1,355 feet (413 m). Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 58069.