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").
Edisto Island is one of South Carolina's Sea Islands and is a census-designated place in Charleston County. The population was 2,301 at the 2000 census. Edisto Island is not to be confused with the town of Edisto Beach, Colleton County, SC.