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").
Vancourt is an unincorporated community in eastern Tom Green County, Texas, United States. It lies along U.S. Route 87 east of the city of San Angelo, the county seat of Tom Green County. Its elevation is 1,867 feet (569 m). Although Vancourt is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 76955; the ZCTA for ZIP Code 76955 had a population of 108 at the 2000 census. Vancourt was named for the wife of the community's first postmaster, whose maiden name was Van Court. It lies in an area whose economy depends primarily on ranching.