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").
For the Town of Sheldon in Monroe County, Wisconsin, see Sheldon, Monroe County, Wisconsin. Sheldon is a village in Rusk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 256 at the 2000 census. Sheldon is located on the north bank of the Jump River.