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").
Van is a small unincorporated community in Boone County, West Virginia, United States, along the Pond Fork of the Little Coal River. Its ZIP code is 25206. Van was named after Van Linville, who established its post office and served as its first postmaster.