What is a Criminal Prosecutor?

The primary role of a criminal prosecutor is to prove to a jury that a defendant is guilty of the crime he or she is being charged with and should be punished accordingly. A prosecutor is responsible for gathering evidence to be introduced at a criminal trial for the purpose of proving the guilt of a defendant. On a bigger scale, this legal profession is responsible for the safety of society by working to have guilty people sent to prison. Their work also helps to deter other criminals from carrying out a similar crime.

Prosecutors are elected to their positions through popular vote in their community or at the federal level. There are county, state and federal prosecutors assigned to bring charges against individuals accused of committing serious crimes against fellow citizens or the government. In most cases, a prosecutor works with crimes like rape, murder and burglary, but occasionally he or she will be asked to prosecute a less serious criminal matter.

Before a trial can take place, a prosecutor must have sufficient evidence to prove that the accused individual should be charged with a crime. It is equally important for the prosecutor to not file charges against innocent people who may have been set up as it is to send legitimate criminals to jail.

If a jury votes to convict a criminal of a crime that he or she has been charged with, prosecutors will make a recommendation to the judge regarding the length of time the defendant must spend in jail. The judge has the final say in sentencing, but will consider input regarding the criminal history of the defendant, the seriousness of the crime and whether the accused individual appears to show any remorse. Prosecutors also work closely with the victim and his or her family throughout the criminal trial.