How the Prosecution Makes a Case

As a representative of the court, a prosecutor is responsible for proving a defendant is guilty. of the crime they have been charged with.

The prosecutor is a representative of the court who is responsible for proving that a person is guilty of the crime he is charged with. The prosecutor makes a case by obtaining and reviewing evidence and witness statements and presenting all findings to the court, the judge and the jury.

Investigation

Police reports, crime scene photos, witness statements and all details pertaining to the crime go to the prosecutor for review. Her findings will be used to determine if there is enough evidence to bring the case to court.

Evidence

The prosecutor looks for two types of evidence during his investigation: direct evidence and circumstantial evidence. Direct evidence includes firsthand information, as when a witness sees the accused stab the victim. Circumstantial evidence is secondhand information, as when a witness sees the accused enter the house where the victim was stabbed.

Charging the Accused

After the prosecutor has reviewed all the evidence, spoken to witnesses and sorted through all information related to the crime, she will determine if the suspect should be charged with the crime.

Pre-trial and Trial

The prosecutor presents to the judge and jury all evidence gathered during the investigation during pre-trial hearings and at trial to prove the defendant is guilty.

References

• U.S. Department of Justice: Steps of a Federal Prosecutor's Job