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").
Meadows Place is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city population was 4,912. Meadows Place was part of Stafford's extraterritorial jurisdiction prior to incorporation on November 14, 1983. Meadows Place was incorporated as Meadows, but this was changed to "Meadows Place" in 1997 due to postal conflicts with a city of a similar name, Meadow. The current mayor is Charles Jessup. Postal addresses in Meadows Place are designated as "Meadows Place, Texas. " Using "Stafford, Texas" with Meadows Place addresses is acceptable as the Post Office is in Stafford. . Meadows Place has a community center with a swimming pool, tennis courts, baseball fields and a running track.