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").
Macfarlan (also MacFarlan) is an unincorporated community in southwestern Ritchie County, West Virginia, United States. It lies along West Virginia Route 47 southwest of the town of Harrisville, the county seat of Ritchie County. Its elevation is 653 feet (199 m). Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 26148.