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").
Plymouth Meeting is a census-designated place (CDP) in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,593 at the 2000 census. It is home to the Colonial School District, the recently renovated Plymouth Meeting Mall (which includes restaurants such as PF Changs, Redstone Grill, Hibachi, Whole Foods and California Pizza Kitchen as well as several large office parks and shopping centers ]. Plymouth Meeting is also home to Ikea's U.S. headquarters. Plymouth Meeting and Plymouth Township are areas known for their quality of life, tree lined streets and excellent park and school systems. The area is desirable because of its close proximity to Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Conshohocken, King of Prussia, Blue Bell and Lafayette Hill in adjacent Whitemarsh township. Plymouth Meeting is officially a village which lies within Plymouth Township and a smaller portion within Whitemarsh Township. Plymouth and Whitemarsh Townships share a high school with Conshohocken borough. The term Plymouth Meeting generally refers to most of Plymouth Township as the townships zip code is congruent with that of Plymouth Meeting. Ironically, the Plymouth Meeting post office is actually located just outside Plymouth Township within Whitemarsh township. The entire area is generally referred to as "Plymouth Whitemarsh" as is the high school. The small Catholic school Epiphany of Our Lord in Plymouth Meeting was recently awarded the Blue Ribbon School designation. Plymouth Meeting, PA is the home of Odyssey Fastpitch Softball, a competitive girls travel/tournament softball organization. LaSalle University maintains a satellite campus in Plymouth Meeting. Plymouth Township is one of the wealthiest Philadelphia suburbs in line with its immediate neighbors, Blue Bell and Lafayette Hill. Villanova University maintains its baseball facilities on the grounds of the Greater Plymouth Township Community Center. The park has a walking trail, sand volleyball courts, indoor basketball and a swimming pool. Concerts are held in the summer as well as a bocce ball league.