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").
Bryan is a city in Williams County, Ohio, United States. The population was 8,333 at the 2000 census. The estimated population in 2005 was 8,360 residents. It is the county seat of Williams County, and the largest city in the county.