Federal jurisdiction

The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) fulfills its legal mandate as the federal prosecution authority. It is responsible for prosecuting offenses that fall under federal jurisdiction and plays a central role in combating crime both within Switzerland and internationally.

Statutory duty

As the federal criminal prosecution authority, the OAG is responsible for investigating and prosecuting offences that fall under federal jurisdiction, as specified in Art. 23 and 24 of the Swiss Criminal Procedure Code (CrimPC; SR 312.0) and in other federal legislation.

These offences comprise classic state security crimes, i.e. criminal acts primarily directed against Switzerland or which strongly affect its interests. They also include complex intercantonal or international organised crime offences (including terrorism and its financing), money laundering and corruption. In certain circumstances, the OAG also has jurisdiction over cases of white collar crime that have an intercantonal or an international dimension. In addition, the OAG is responsible for executing requests for mutual assistance from foreign prosecution authorities.

The OAG conducts its criminal investigations in close co-operation with the Federal Criminal Police (FCP). The OAG also co-operates closely with the cantonal law-enforcement authorities. As the OAG regularly conducts complex proceedings with international links, close co-operation with foreign law enforcement agencies is equally important.

Tasks

The OAG has a range of duties that are laid down by the law and must prosecute all the offences that fall under its jurisdiction ex officio.

The tasks of the OAG are:

  • Enforcing criminal law in relation to crimes that fall within federal jurisdiction by conducting investigations where there is sufficient suspicion that an offence has been committed;
  • Initiating and consulting on new legislation on crime and criminal procedure, insofar as this is required in order to fight crime more efficiently;
  • Supporting law enforcement in other countries by providing mutual assistance;
  • Cooperating, coordinating, collaborating and exchanging information and expertise with partner authorities in Switzerland and with international organisations on various types of crime.

In order to fulfil its mandate, the OAG focuses on fields of crime that allow specialisation in specific subjects, on forming task forces that ensure the cross-departmental sharing of information and knowledge, and on exchanges with partner organisations.

The OAG fulfills these tasks as an independent, self-governing authority by being suitably organised, and by making effective use of its human, financial and material resources (Art. 9 and 16 of the Federal Act on the Organisation of Federal Criminal Justice Authorities, Criminal Justice Authorities Act, SR 173.71).