A prosecutor is a lawyer who represents the government in criminal cases, working to prove that someone accused of a crime is guilty. While defense attorneys protect the rights of the accused, prosecutors gather evidence, interview witnesses, and present the case against the defendant in court. They decide which criminal charges to bring and argue why the person should be convicted.

Prosecutors have tremendous responsibility and power. They must seek justice above all else. A good prosecutor drops charges when evidence shows someone is innocent, even after investing months in a case. They also decide whether to offer plea bargains, where a defendant pleads guilty to lesser charges to avoid trial.

The most famous prosecutors in America are district attorneys (DAs), who lead prosecution offices in counties and cities. The U.S. Attorney General serves as the nation's top prosecutor. In courtroom dramas and real trials, you'll often hear prosecutors called “the prosecution” collectively, as in “the prosecution rests” when it has finished presenting its evidence.

Their job is to hold wrongdoers accountable while ensuring that innocent people aren't wrongly convicted.