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").
Vermilion is a city in Erie and Lorain counties in Ohio, U.S. The population was 10,927 at the 2000 census. The current mayor is Eileen Bulan. The Lorain County portion of Vermilion is part of the Cleveland–Elyria–Mentor Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Erie County portion is part of the Sandusky Metropolitan Statistical Area. The nickname of Vermilion High School sports teams is the "Sailors", and many prominent sailboat racers of the Great Lakes have lived here. The area is noted for its many orchards, wineries, and roadside fruit and vegetable stands.