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").
Athens is a city in Henderson County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 11,297. It is the county seat of Henderson County. According to the Texas Legislature, Athens is the "Original Home of the Hamburger" . The city also calls itself the "Black-Eyed Pea Capital of the World", due to their annual black-eyed pea festival.