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").
Lancaster is a city in Dallas County, Texas. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city population was 25,894 (though a 2007 estimate placed the city's population at 35,050). Lancaster is a suburb of Dallas and is part of the Best Southwest area, which includes Lancaster, Cedar Hill, DeSoto, and Duncanville.