What Do Prosecutors Do?
By Robert P. McCulloch
Prosecuting Attorney of St. Louis County, MO and Past President of NDAA
Back in the 1940s and early ‘50s, in what many regard as the “golden era” of radio drama, one of the more popular programs was “Mr. District Attorney,” which began with the announcer saying, “It shall be the duty of the district attorney, not only to prosecute all crimes committed within his jurisdiction but to defend with equal vigor, the rights and privileges of all its citizens.”
Today, the popular TV program, “Law and Order” begins with the announcement, “In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate and important groups – the police who investigate crime and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders…”
Interestingly, the earlier description of the district attorney’s mission is more accurate than the second, more recent one. Yes, we do prosecute criminals, but that’s not all we do. Our overriding responsibility is to seek truth and justice, regardless of where that search may lead - whether it results in prosecution and conviction, or in some cases, exoneration. This is a far cry from the distorted and frankly, dishonest image spread by such radio and TV programs as “Perry Mason,” in which private investigator Mason continuously outwits the DA, portrayed as the “heavy”, interested only in sending people to jail. Read the rest of the story.
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