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").
This article is about Fairlea, West Virginia. For the former women's prison, see HM Prison Fairlea. Fairlea is a census-designated place (CDP) in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,706 at the 2000 census. Fairlea is the location of the annual West Virginia State Fair, held in August.