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").
Edcouch is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,342 at the 2000 census. Edcouch is located at the intersection of State Highway 107 and Farm to Market Road 1015. It is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission Metropolitan Statistical Area.