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").
Watertown is a city in and the county seat of Codington County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 20,237 at the 2000 census. It is also the principal city of the Watertown Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Codington and Hamlin counties. Gary Williams is the current Mayor. Watertown has one public high school, Watertown High School, and one private boarding school, Great Plains Lutheran High School. Watertown is home to the Redlin Art Center which houses many of the original art works produced by Terry Redlin, one of America's most popular wildlife artists. Watertown also is home to the Bramble Park Zoo. The Watertown Public Opinion is a six-day daily newspaper published in Watertown.