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").
Lakewood is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Greater Cleveland Metropolitan Area, and borders the city of Cleveland. The population was 54,765 at the United States Census American Community Survey in 2007, making it the third largest city in Cuyahoga County, behind Cleveland (478,403) and Parma (85,655). Lakewood, while technically one of Cleveland's inner-ring suburbs, has an urban character, bordering the city of Cleveland to the east and south. Lakewood's population density is the highest of any city in Ohio and is roughly comparable to that of Washington, DC.