Prokurør

Prokurør is a legal official responsible for representing the state in criminal proceedings and for pursuing prosecutions in the name of the public interest. The core function is to determine whether to bring charges, to present the state’s case in court, and to ensure that investigations and prosecutions are conducted in a lawful and fair manner.

Duties and powers typically include directing or supervising police investigations, evaluating evidence, filing indictments, leading prosecutions at trial, and handling appeals or post-conviction matters. Prokurører are expected to protect the rights of suspects and defendants while pursuing public safety and the enforcement of criminal law. In many jurisdictions they also oversee investigative procedures to ensure they comply with applicable statutes and due process.

Organisation and independence vary by country. The prokurør usually works within a public prosecutor’s office and may be hierarchically responsible to an Attorney General, a Ministry of Justice, or an autonomous prosecutor’s service. Independence from political influence is often underscored, but the exact balance between executive oversight and prosecutorial autonomy differs across legal systems. Prokurører can be subject to accountability mechanisms, such as oversight by the judiciary, audit bodies, or legislative committees.

Scope of work can extend beyond strictly criminal cases in some jurisdictions, including enforcement actions, regulatory matters, or cases where the state has a public-interest role. Terminology and exact duties differ by country; in English-language contexts the closest equivalent is typically “prosecutor” or “public prosecutor,” while “prokurør” or related terms are used in several European languages.