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").
Williston is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 7,650 at the 2000 census. It is one of the fastest-growing towns in the state, and during the last decade, has developed as a major retail center for the Burlington area as well as much of central and northern Vermont. It contains the village of Williston, which is unincorporated.