public prosecutor's office
Loading your saved state.
public prosecutor's office
The government authority responsible for criminal prosecution. It conducts investigations and brings charges in court on behalf of the state.
Nach monatelangen Ermittlungen hat die Staatsanwaltschaft Anklage erhoben.
After months of investigations, the public prosecutor's office brought charges.
The word is composed of three parts: 'Staat' (state), 'Anwalt' (lawyer), and the ending '-schaft' (-ship/-hood, institution/group). So it literally describes the institution ('-schaft') of the lawyers who work for the state.
Die Staatsanwaltschaft vertritt die Anklage im Namen des Staates.
The public prosecutor's office represents the prosecution on behalf of the state.
In the context of investigations and court proceedings, 'Staatsanwaltschaft' (public prosecutor's office) is often used with certain verbs: 'die Staatsanwaltschaft ermittelt' (the public prosecutor's office investigates), 'erhebt Anklage' (brings charges), or 'fordert eine Strafe' (demands a sentence).
Die Staatsanwaltschaft fordert eine Freiheitsstrafe von drei Jahren.
The public prosecutor's office is demanding a prison sentence of three years.
The preposition often helps you recognize whether the building is meant ('in die' or 'bei der Staatsanwaltschaft' — to/at the public prosecutor's office). Whether the authority as an institution or the group of people is meant can be inferred from the verb.
Er musste zur Aussage in die Staatsanwaltschaft.
He had to go to the prosecutor's office to give a statement.
police
'die Polizei' and 'die Staatsanwaltschaft' both have to do with crimes. The police are usually the first on the scene, take reports, look for evidence, and question people. The public prosecutor's office leads a criminal investigation and decides whether charges will be brought in court. The words can be confused because both work together in criminal law. In practical terms: the police often investigate directly out in the field or at the scene, while the public prosecutor's office manages the legal proceedings and later represents the prosecution.
Die Staatsanwaltschaft hat nach den neuen Beweisen Anklage erhoben.
The public prosecutor's office brought charges after the new evidence.
Der Fahrer wird nach dem Unfall die Polizei informieren.
After the accident, the driver will inform the police.