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").
Painesville is a city in Lake County, Ohio, United States, along the Grand River. Its population was 17,503 as of the 2000 Census. It is the county seat of Lake County and the home of Lake Erie College and Morley Library. According to the 2000 Census, the City of Painesville is the fourth largest municipality in Lake County.