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").
Griffithsville (also Bernie) is an unincorporated community in eastern Lincoln County, West Virginia, United States. It lies along West Virginia Route 3 southeast of the town of Hamlin, the county seat of Lincoln County. Its elevation is 659 feet (201 m). Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 25521.