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").
West Richland is a 22-square-mile (57 km) city in Benton County, Washington, United States, served by three elementary schools (Tapteal, William Wiley and White Bluffs) and a middle school (Enterprise), with an annual budget of about 30 million dollars. The population was 8,385 at the 2000 census. The city is generally included in the Tri-Cities (for purposes of counting population, etc. ), even though that technically makes four cities.