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Simple English definitions for legal terms
District Attorney (D.A.)
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A quick definition of District Attorney (D.A.):
District Attorney (D.A.): A person who is elected to be in charge of prosecuting crimes in a certain area, like a county or district. They work with the police to investigate crimes and decide if there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime. They are also called County Attorney or State's Attorney in some places. U.S. Attorneys are like District Attorneys, but they work for the federal government and are appointed by the President.
A more thorough explanation:
A District Attorney (D.A.) is an elected official who is responsible for prosecuting crimes in a county or designated district. They manage the prosecutor's office, work with law enforcement to investigate alleged crimes, and file criminal charges or present evidence to a Grand Jury that may lead to an indictment for a crime. In some states, a District Attorney may also be called a County Attorney or State's Attorney.
For example, if someone is accused of committing a crime, the District Attorney's office will review the evidence and decide whether to file charges. The District Attorney will then present the case in court and work to secure a conviction.
In larger states, there may be several Federal District Attorneys who are appointed by the President and serve within the Department of Justice. They are responsible for prosecuting crimes within their designated districts.