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Criminal Law

The role of Attorneys General with respect to the investigation and prosecution of criminal offenses varies in each jurisdiction; being dependent upon the powers and duties of the Office of Attorney General as found in the jurisdiction's statutory and constitutional framework. In certain jurisdictions, the Attorney General serves as the sole prosecuting authority; while in others, the Attorney General has no criminal jurisdiction whatsoever. In a majority of jurisdictions, the Attorney General plays a significant role in the investigation and prosecution of criminal matters, both at the trial and appellate levels. Moreover, as a jurisdiction's chief legal officer, Attorneys General are generally involved in policy matters affecting the criminal laws in their respective jurisdictions.

The NAAG Criminal Law Project provides a structure for exchanging information among the Attorneys General, allowing them to draw upon their collective expertise and experiences. The Project ensures that Attorneys General are kept informed in a timely and useful manner of all important criminal justice issues that affect the powers and duties of Attorneys General in this subject area, as well as examines emerging trends which may impact criminal policy matters on both the state and national levels.