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").
Rockville is an unincorporated community in Hanover County in the Central Region of the U.S. state of Virginia. Rockville was named after early 19th century postmaster, William Rock. Prior to the name "Rockville," the community was named "Dentonsville," after postmaster Allen Denton, the descendent of colonial settler Thomas Denton, whose tavern ("Denton's Tavern") exists today as a private residence. When Allen Denton sold the tavern to William Rock, the name of the community also changed to reflect the new postmaster. The community formerly consisted primarily of farmland. Today many Rockville residents commute to jobs in Richmond. Additional information on the early history of Rockville is available from Gary L. Denton, Attorney at Law, 14453 Riverside Drive, Ashland, VA 23005. Some of the few stores in Rockville are "Fiesta Market" (which sells Chinese and Mexican cuisine, as well as deli sandwiches, found across the road from the library and the post office), "Expressway Food Mart" (found at the intersection of Pouncey Tract and Ashland road, more commonly called Hylas), and "Community Cuts" (found in the same building of the Grayson Johnson law office). Another business known as Fantasy Designs is located in Hylas, Fantasy Designs is a small body shop that does cosmetic car repair. While most of the land in the area is still farmland, many of the farms are being sold to developers, and suburban developments are coming in. The largest example of this is Carrington Glen, a very large development of new homes going into what was previously a large farm. Other large neighborhoods in the area include Shop Creek and Willoughby. The local library has recently been renovated, and has nearly doubled in size, thanks to area resident J. Harwood Cochrane, retired founder of Overnight Transportation. The library has changed its name in his honor from the Rockville Library to the Cochrane Rockville Library. The library is in the Pamunkey Library System. Rockville has a variety of recreational sports for children. There is a soccer and baseball field area at the Rockville School Park. There is also a gym and an outdoor pool at the Rockville Center(a private club). Rockville has its own soccer, baseball and swim teams. Rockville has several civic associations and is home to the Monastery of the Visitation of Holy Mary and the Southern Baptist Convention's International Learning Center (formerly known as the Missionary Learning Center). Rockville is located in the Hanover County Public Schools school district and many of the children who live here go to South Anna Elementary School. Children in the Rockville area then go to Liberty Middle Schools and Patrick Henry High Schools, which are located adjacently on State Route 54 west of Ashland.