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").
Porter is an unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. In 1980, its population estimated 8,000. Schools in Porter are operated by the New Caney Independent School District.