die  Staatsanwaltschaft

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ʃtaːtsˈanvaltʃaft/

🏛️ What exactly is 'die Staatsanwaltschaft'?

Die Staatsanwaltschaft (feminine, plural: die Staatsanwaltschaften) primarily refers to the public prosecutor's office, the authority responsible for criminal prosecution in Germany and other German-speaking countries. It leads the investigation, files charges in court (erhebt Anklage), and represents the prosecution during the main trial.

In a broader sense, die Staatsanwaltschaft can also refer to the prosecutors working there as a collective body.

• Meaning 1: The public prosecutor's office as an institution (e.g., Die Staatsanwaltschaft München I - *the Munich I public prosecutor's office*)
• Meaning 2: The body of prosecutors within that office (e.g., Die Staatsanwaltschaft fordert eine hohe Strafe. - *The prosecution demands a severe sentence.*)

⚠️ It's important to distinguish the institution (die Staatsanwaltschaft) from the individual people (der Staatsanwalt - male prosecutor, die Staatsanwältin - female prosecutor).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar: 'Die Staatsanwaltschaft' in Detail

The word "Staatsanwaltschaft" is a feminine noun. Therefore, the article is always die.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

The plural form is used when referring to multiple prosecutor's offices, often distinguished by location or jurisdiction.

📝 Example Sentences

1. Die Staatsanwaltschaft hat das Verfahren eingeleitet.
   (The public prosecutor's office has initiated the proceedings.)
2. Der Fall liegt nun bei der Staatsanwaltschaft.
   (The case is now with the public prosecutor's office.)
3. Die verschiedenen Staatsanwaltschaften des Landes arbeiten zusammen.
   (The various public prosecutor's offices in the state/country are collaborating.)
4. Die Anklage wurde von der Staatsanwaltschaft verlesen.
   (The indictment was read out by the prosecution.)

💬 How to use 'die Staatsanwaltschaft'?

The term die Staatsanwaltschaft is mainly used in legal and administrative contexts.

• As an institution: Referring to the responsible authority. Example: "Die Ermittlungen werden von der Staatsanwaltschaft geführt." (*The investigations are led by the public prosecutor's office.*) Analogous to the *District Attorney's Office* in the US or the *Crown Prosecution Service* in the UK.
• As a party in proceedings: In criminal trials, die Staatsanwaltschaft acts as the prosecutor. Example: "Die Staatsanwaltschaft plädierte auf schuldig." (*The prosecution pleaded guilty.*)
• In plural: When referring to multiple such offices, e.g., at state or federal level. Example: "Die Generalbundesanwaltschaft koordiniert die Arbeit der Staatsanwaltschaften der Länder." (*The Federal Public Prosecutor General coordinates the work of the state public prosecutor's offices.*)

Typical collocations:

• die Staatsanwaltschaft ermittelt (*the prosecutor's office investigates*)
• die Staatsanwaltschaft erhebt Anklage (*the prosecutor's office presses charges*)
• die Staatsanwaltschaft fordert / beantragt (*the prosecution demands / requests*)
• die zuständige Staatsanwaltschaft (*the responsible prosecutor's office*)

Don't confuse die Staatsanwaltschaft (the office/collective body) with der Staatsanwalt (male prosecutor) or die Staatsanwältin (female prosecutor).

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in -schaft in German are almost always feminine (die). Think of other common words: die Freundschaft (friendship), die Mannschaft (team), die Wissenschaft (science)... and also die Staatschaftsanwaltschaft. The suffix '-schaft' often indicates a community, collective, or institution -> die community, die institution.

Meaning Mnemonic: Break down the word: Staat (state) + Anwalt (lawyer/advocate) + -schaft (collective suffix). It represents the 'advocacy' or body of lawyers for the state, responsible for prosecution. Imagine a whole *team* (Mannschaft) of lawyers working for the state -> *die Staatsanwaltschaft*.

↔️ Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Similar but distinct terms:

• Der Staatsanwalt / Die Staatsanwältin: (The male/female public prosecutor) - The individual officers within the authority. Die Staatsanwaltschaft is the authority itself or the collective.
• Das Gericht: (The court) - The institution that judges the case. The *Staatsanwaltschaft* is 'only' the prosecuting party.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Richter den Angeklagten: "Warum haben Sie die Parkuhr aufgebrochen?"
Angeklagter: "Herr Richter, auf der Uhr stand 'Einwurf für 2 Stunden'. Ich dachte, da muss doch ordentlich was drin sein!"
Richter: "Da wird sich die Staatsanwaltschaft aber freuen... über Ihre Logik!"

Translation:

The judge asks the defendant: "Why did you break open the parking meter?"
Defendant: "Your Honor, the meter said 'Insert coins for 2 hours'. I figured there must be quite a lot inside!"
Judge: "Well, the public prosecutor's office will be delighted... with your logic!"

📜 A Short Poem

Im Namen des Staates, mit ernstem Gesicht,
führt sie die Klage, bringt Taten ans Licht.
Die Staatsanwaltschaft, mit Akten und Recht,
verfolgt, was verboten, was böse und schlecht.
Sie prüft die Beweise, erhebt dann die Hand,
für Ordnung und Gesetz hier im Land.

Translation:

In the name of the state, with a serious face,
It leads the prosecution, brings deeds to the light place.
The Public Prosecutor's Office, with files and law's might,
Pursues what's forbidden, what's wrong and not right.
It checks the evidence, then raises its hand,
For order and justice here in the land.

❓ A Little Riddle

Ich bin eine Behörde, nicht eine Person allein,
Ich klage an im Namen des Staates, das muss sein.
Vor Gericht vertrete ich das Recht,
Wer bin ich, wenn’s um Straftaten geht, ganz schlicht?

(Lösung/Solution: die Staatsanwaltschaft)

Translation:

I am an authority, not just one person alone,
I prosecute in the name of the state, it must be shown.
In court, I represent the law's decree,
Who am I, regarding crimes, simply tell me?

(Solution: the public prosecutor's office / die Staatsanwaltschaft)

🧩 Word Components and Other Info

The word "Staatsanwaltschaft" is a compound noun, composed of three parts:

• Staat: Refers to the state, the public authority.
• Anwalt: Originally a legal representative, here in the sense of a representative of the prosecution.
• -schaft: A suffix indicating a body, institution, or collective (like in Freundschaft - friendship, Gesellschaft - society).

So, together it signifies an institution (or body) of 'state advocates' or prosecutors.

Trivia: In Germany, the public prosecution service (Staatsanwaltschaft) is hierarchically structured, often with Staatsanwaltschaften at the regional courts (Landgerichte), Oberstaatsanwaltschaften at the higher regional courts (Oberlandesgerichte), and the Federal Public Prosecutor General (Generalbundesanwaltschaft) at the Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof).