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").
Woonsocket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 43,224 at the 2000 census, making it the sixth largest city in the state. Woonsocket lies directly south of the Massachusetts border. The city is the corporate headquarters of CVS Caremark, a leading integrated pharmacy services provider. It is also home to Landmark Medical Center, St John the Baptist Union, the Museum of Work and Culture and the American-French Genealogical Society. Woonsocket's oldest radio station, WOON (originally WWON), signed on in 1946 & continues to provide local service to Woonsocket. Its former sister station WWON-FM is now hip-hop radio station WWKX 106.3 "Hot 106" is licensed to broadcast from Woonsocket. Radio Station WNRI, established in 1954, broadcasts 24 hours daily (albeit on a limited nighttime signal of 18 watts) from its Diamond Hill Road studios. Woonsocket is located at 42°0′6″N 71°30′26″W / 42.00167°N 71.50722°W / 42.00167; -71.50722 (42.001731, -71.507223). The city is located approximately 15 miles North of Providence. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.0 square miles (20.6 km²), of which, 7.7 square miles (20.0 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (3.14%) is water. Woonsocket is drained by the Blackstone River. Adjacent communities include: Blackstone, Bellingham, Cumberland, and North Smithfield.