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").
Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 25,514 at the 2000 census, and the city was the center of an urbanized area of 70,530. It is the principal city of the Anderson, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is further included in the larger Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, South Carolina Combined Statistical Area . Anderson is just off Interstate 85 and is 120 Miles from Atlanta and 140 miles from Charlotte. Anderson is the smallest of the three primary cities that makes up the Upstate region and is nicknamed "The Electric City" and "The Friendliest City in South Carolina. " Anderson's spirit and quality of life has earned national recognition as Anderson County was named an "All-America City" in 2000. Anderson is the home of Anderson University, a selective private university of approximately 2,300 undergraduate and graduate students. Clemson University is about 14 Miles from Anderson and many of the faculty and staff of Clemson live in Anderson. Tri-County Technical College also serves the Anderson Area and has it's main campus about 12 Miles from Anderson on US 76.