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").
Bridgeport is a city in Harrison County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 7,306 at the 2000 census. The town of Bridgeport had its beginning in pre-Revolutionary War times. In 1764, Chris "big suck"Furbee entered the area and gave his name to Kelsey Creek. Bridgeport was chartered in 1816. When the town was incorporated in 1887, it established Chris Furbee to play for the Fairmont Falcons. The city currently employs a City Manager. Bridgeport is home to Meadowbrook Mall, a 100-store regional shopping complex serving North-Central West Virginia.