Prosecutor

Prosecutor

A prosecutor is a legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system or the civil law inquisitorial system. The prosecution is the legal party responsible for presenting the case in a criminal trial against an individual accused of breaking the law.

Types of prosecutors

Public prosecutors

A public prosecutor, also known as a district attorney or state's attorney in the United States, is a prosecutor who represents the state or the people of the state in criminal proceedings. In some jurisdictions, they are appointed by the executive branch of the government, while in others they are elected.

Private prosecutors

A private prosecutor is a lawyer who is hired by a private individual or organization to pursue a criminal case on their behalf. This practice is less common and is typically only allowed in certain jurisdictions.

Roles and responsibilities

Prosecutors have a wide range of responsibilities, including:

• Investigating crimes
• Deciding whether to charge a suspect with a crime
• Representing the state in court
• Negotiating plea bargains
• Supervising the execution of sentences

Ethics and standards

Prosecutors are expected to uphold high ethical standards and to seek justice rather than merely trying to win cases. They have a duty to disclose evidence that could exonerate a defendant, known as Brady disclosure.

See also

• Defense attorney
• Criminal justice
• Legal ethics

References

Prosecutor Resources
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