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").
Merit is an unincorporated community in Hunt County, Texas, United States. It is located fifteen miles northwest of Greenville. Although it is unincorporated, Merit has a post office, with the ZIP code of 75458. The Bland Independent School District serves area students. Prominent Houston attorney Joe Rollins (1918-2008) was born in Merit.