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").
Smithburg is a unincorporated community in Doddridge County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located along U.S. Route 50. Middle Island Creek, the longest river to be called a creek, is formed in Smithburg by the confluence of Meathouse Fork and Buckeye Creek. The North Bend Rail Trail passes through the community.