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").
Hale Center is a city in Hale County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,263 at the 2000 census. Hale Center is near the county seat of Plainview. Hale Center is located at 34°3′53″N 101°50′45″W / 34.06472°N 101.84583°W / 34.06472; -101.84583 (34.064795, -101.845940). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all of it land.