StPO

The Strafprozessordnung, abbreviated StPO, is the German federal code that governs the conduct of criminal proceedings in Germany. It provides the procedural framework for investigations, pre-trial measures, trials, and the enforcement of judgments. The aim is to secure a fair, efficient, and legally coherent process from initial action through to appeal, across all German states, within the limits of constitutional rights.

It defines the roles and powers of the main actors: police, which conducts investigations under the direction of the public prosecutor's office (Staatsanwaltschaft); prosecutors who supervise proceedings and file indictments; and the courts, staffed by professional judges and, in many cases, lay judges (Schöffen). The code covers procedures such as arrest, detention, search and seizure, interrogation, and notification of rights, as well as the collection, handling, and examination of evidence.

It interacts with the Strafgesetzbuch (StGB, the criminal code) and with constitutional and court-organization provisions (Gerichtsverfassungsgesetz). Although criminal procedure is largely a matter for the states, the StPO is a federal statute applicable nationwide. It prescribes public hearings, oral proceedings, and rules for the admissibility and evaluation of evidence, including witness testimony and the defense's rights.

Key protections for suspects and defendants include the right to counsel, the right to be informed of charges, and the presumption of innocence. The StPO provides avenues for remedies, such as appeals and revisions. Over time, reforms have sought to balance fair procedural safeguards with efficiency and modern investigative techniques, for example in areas like detention rules and electronic evidence.