Ars Boni Recht neugierig - Folge 14
Oct 28, 2025
Mag. Bernd Ziska, an experienced public prosecutor from the Vienna Public Prosecutor's Office, shares an insider's perspective on his fascinating profession. He discusses the complexity of handling criminal investigations and the common misconceptions people have about prosecutors. Ziska elaborates on a typical workday, balancing desk duties with fieldwork, and the variances in case durations. He also emphasizes the importance of truth and objectivity in prosecution, distinguishing between the roles of prosecutors, judges, and lawyers.
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Two Core Functions Of The Prosecutor
- The Staatsanwaltschaft has two main tasks: lead criminal investigations and decide on prosecutions.
- It alone holds the prosecution monopoly and determines which crimes go to court.
Most Work Happens At The Desk
- Daily work is mostly desk-based and increasingly digital after COVID-19.
- Prosecutors typically get about two new cases per day and perform most actions from files rather than at crime scenes.
Use On-Site Visits And Careful Orders
- Visit crime scenes when necessary to gather direct impressions and oversee searches.
- Use judicial orders for privacy-intrusive measures like phone taps or house searches and justify them thoroughly.