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").
Kelso is a city in southwest Washington State, United States, and is the county seat of Cowlitz County. At the 2000 census, the population was 11,895. Kelso is part of the Longview, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 101,254.. Kelso shares its long western border with Longview, Washington. It is located near Mount St. Helens.