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").
Delaware is a city in and the county seat of Delaware County, Ohio, United States. Located near the center of Ohio, about 20 miles (32 km) north of Columbus, Delaware was founded in 1808 and incorporated in 1816. It is part of the Columbus Metropolitan Area. The population was 25,246 at the 2000 census. According to the US Census 2008 estimate, Delaware has a population of 33,719, while the Columbus-Marion-Chillicothe, OH Combined Statistical Area has 2,002,604 people.