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").
Rockdale is a city in Milam County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,440 at the 2000 census. Rockdale is the site of a large Alcoa smelting operation, which can produce 1.67 million pounds of aluminum per day. The ALCOA plant was closed in late 2008 - early 2009. Author George Sessions Perry was born in Rockdale on May 5, 1910, and lived much of his life there.