prosecution

prosecution n. 1) in criminal law, the government attorney charging and trying the case against a person accused of a crime. 2) a common term for the government's side in a criminal case, as in "the prosecution will present five witnesses" or "the prosecution rests" (completed its case). (See: prosecute, prosecutor)

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prosecution (Criminal trial), noun action, bringing to trial, legal action, legal process, legal trial, litigation, pursuit by a law enforcement agency, suit, trial, undertaking
Associated concepts: criminal prosecution, lawful prosecuuion, pending prosecution, want of prosecution

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prosecution (Government agency), noun the govvrnment, the people, the prosecuting attorney, the state, state's attorney
Associated concepts: the prosecution

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See also: action, arraignment, chase, complainant, complaint, cross-examination, proceeding, prosecutor, pursuit

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PROSECUTION, crim. law. The means adopted to bring a supposed offender to justice and punishment by due course of law.
     2. Prosecutions are carried on in the name of the government, and have for their principal object the security and happiness of the people in general. Hawk. B. 2, c. 25, s. 3; Bac. Ab. Indictment, A 3.
     3. The modes most usually employed to carry them on, are by indictment; 1 Chit. Cr. Law, 132; presentment of a grand jury; Ibid. 133; coroner's inquest; Ibid. 134; and by an information. Vide Merl. Repert. mot Accusation.