ledczy

Ledczy is a non-diacritic form of the Polish word śledczy, which denotes an investigator or detective. In standard Polish, the correct spelling uses the diacritic ś. The term refers to a person who conducts investigations into suspected crimes, typically within the police or the public prosecutor’s office, during the pre-trial phase.

The primary duties of a śledczy include identifying suspects, gathering and preserving evidence, interviewing witnesses, and carrying out or supervising searches, seizures, and other investigative measures. The goal is to establish the facts of a case in a manner that yields legally admissible evidence and supports the prosecutor’s subsequent decisions, including whether to file charges.

Within the Polish system, there can be śledczy working as police officers who conduct investigations under supervisory directions, as well as officials in the Prokuratura (the public prosecutor’s office) who oversee and direct investigations. While the term is often used broadly to describe investigators, the prosecutorial authority to initiate and prosecute cases ultimately rests with the prokurator. The śledczy role is thus distinct from that of a prosecutor, who represents the state in court and decides on charges.

Etymology: śledczy derives from śledzić, meaning to track or pursue. The non-diacritic form ledcy or ledczy may appear in informal writing or contexts where diacritics are omitted.

See also: criminal investigation, police, prokuratura, kodeks postępowania karnego.