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").
Bealeton is a small unincorporated community in Fauquier County, Virginia, at the intersection of State Route 28 and U.S. Route 17. Public schools in Bealeton include Grace Miller Elementary, Cedar Lee Middle, and Liberty High School. Bealeton is home to its own Post Office with ZIP Code, 22712, and has a population of 6,884 (US Census Report, 2000). On May 15, 2006, ground was broken on a 5,960-square-foot (554 m), $2.3 million dollar post office to replace the old one. It was completed in 2007.