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").
Selinsgrove is a borough in Snyder County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,383 at the 2000 census. It is the largest borough in Snyder County. Nestled in the middle of the Susquehanna River Valley in Central Pennsylvania, Selinsgrove is located along US Route 11 & US Route 15, 50 miles (80 km) north of Harrisburg and about five miles (8 km) southwest of Sunbury. Routes 11 & 15 once traversed the borough by its primary artery, Market Street. Traffic concerns led to the construction of a bypass to funnel long haul traffic around the historic downtown. Like many similar projects, an unintended consequence of this bypass was the growth of retail and commercial businesses in the communities north of the borough. Selinsgrove's downtown has sought to reinvent itself by emphasizing its historic charm. The Dauntless Hook & Ladder volunteer fire company provides emergency services to the borough's residents.