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").
Williamston is a town in Anderson County, South Carolina, United States, that is adjacent to the small towns of Pelzer and West Pelzer. The city's newspaper, The Journal considers Williamston, Pelzer, West Pelzer, Piedmont, and Powdersville one community, spanning Northern Anderson County and Southern Greenville County and most residents would agree. The population was 3,791 at the 2000 census.