|
Soviet Union [USSR] The Procuracy
The Procuracy was the most powerful institution in the Soviet
system of justice relating to nonpolitical matters. It was a
hierarchical organization representing all public prosecutors, all
the way down to the city or village level. As specified in the
Soviet Constitution, the procurator general of the Soviet Union was
appointed by the Supreme Soviet and controlled Procuracy officials
throughout the system. Employees of the Procuracy were not subject
to the authority of their local soviets, but they were subject to
the authority of the party. The Procuracy had a wide range of
functions, involving itself at all stages in the criminal process.
Procurators carried out investigations of the majority of cases;
supervised investigations carried out by the MVD, the KGB, and the
Procuracy's own employees; authorized arrests; prosecuted
offenders; and supervised prisons. In addition, procurators
supervised parole and the release of prisoners and referred
judicial decisions to higher courts for review. Procurators also
oversaw the operation of all government bodies, enterprises,
officials, and social organizations to ensure that they were
observing the law. Although the Procuracy possessed the formal
authority to supervise the KGB in carrying out arrests and
investigations in political cases, there was little evidence that
the Procuracy actually exercised this function.
Data as of May 1989
|
