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").
Puyallup, Washington is a city in Pierce County, Washington about five miles east of Tacoma. The population was 33,011 at the 2000 census. Named after the Puyallup Tribe of Native Americans, Puyallup means "the generous people."