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").
Elyria is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Lorain County. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio at the forks of the Black River. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 55,953. The city is named for its founder, Heman Ely . The city is home to Lorain County Community College.