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").
Mehama is an unincorporated community in Marion County, Oregon, United States, located on Oregon Route 22 and the North Santiam River. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Mehama as a census-designated place (CDP). The census definition of the area may not precisely correspond to local understanding of the area with the same name. The population was 283 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area. Mehama is the eastern terminus of Oregon Route 226, and is just one mile north of Lyons, across the North Santiam.