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").
Pickerington, founded in 1815, is a city in Fairfield and Franklin counties in the central region of the U.S. state of Ohio. It is a suburb of Columbus. The population was 9,792 at the 2000 census. As land annexation, development, and in-migration in and around Columbus continues, the city of Pickerington (like many area suburbs) has generally followed suit: its population was estimated at 17,531 as of July, 2008. The Ohio Secretary of State certified Pickerington as a city in 1991. At 11.1 square miles, Pickerington is the second largest city in Fairfield County. The City of Pickerington is located just east of Columbus, Ohio. The city features a historic downtown shopping area, while Violet Township is home to rolling hills, long horses, forests, and fields.