criminal proceedings
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criminal proceedings
The entire legal process from the investigation to the verdict, carried out by state authorities when there is suspicion of a criminal offense.
Gegen den Manager wurde wegen Betrugs ein Strafverfahren eingeleitet.
Criminal proceedings were initiated against the manager for fraud.
The word is made up of 'Strafe' (punishment) and 'Verfahren' (proceedings, procedure). So it literally describes proceedings that can lead to a punishment.
Das Strafverfahren dauerte mehrere Monate.
The criminal proceedings lasted several months.
A criminal proceeding is always conducted 'gegen' (against) a person or an organization. The preposition 'gegen' is followed by the accusative.
Die Staatsanwaltschaft hat ein Strafverfahren gegen den Verdächtigen eröffnet.
The public prosecutor's office opened criminal proceedings against the suspect.
In a legal context, 'Strafverfahren' (criminal proceedings) is often used with the verbs 'einleiten' (to initiate), 'eröffnen' (to open), or 'einstellen' (to discontinue, close).
Das Strafverfahren gegen ihn wurde aus Mangel an Beweisen eingestellt.
The criminal proceedings against him were discontinued due to lack of evidence.
process / trial
'der Prozess' and 'das Strafverfahren' can both have to do with court and the law. 'Prozess' is more general and means a trial or court proceeding, for example also in a dispute between two people or companies. 'Strafverfahren' is more specific: it is about suspicion of a criminal offense and the entire legal path from the investigation to the verdict. Learners may confuse the words because in everyday speech people often speak generally of a 'Prozess'. When the police, the public prosecutor's office, and a possible punishment are central, 'Strafverfahren' is more precise.
Nach der Anzeige wurde ein Strafverfahren gegen den Fahrer eröffnet.
After the report was filed, criminal proceedings were opened against the driver.
Der Prozess gegen die Firma beginnt nächste Woche.
The trial against the company begins next week.