# What's the CDN equivilent of a State Attorney Department? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 6, 2002, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cdn-equivilent-of-a-state-attorney-department/117617 "2002-07-06T11:44:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stupendous\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Stupendous\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stupendous_man)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2002, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cdn-equivilent-of-a-state-attorney-department/117617/1 "2002-07-06T11:44:07Z")
Anyone know? ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cdn-equivilent-of-a-state-attorney-department/117617/2 "2002-07-07T04:44:53Z")
Computer Data Network? Creatures Developer Network? The Centre Dramatique National de Normandie? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cdn-equivilent-of-a-state-attorney-department/117617/3 "2002-07-07T06:04:45Z")
The Ontarian equivalent to a State Arttorney General is the [Ministry of the Attorney-General](http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/). ---
**Author:** ![Stupendous\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Stupendous\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stupendous_man)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cdn-equivilent-of-a-state-attorney-department/117617/4 "2002-07-07T11:29:24Z")
Thank you sir, and also you too Duck Duck Goose. CDN is a short form of Canadian. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cdn-equivilent-of-a-state-attorney-department/117617/5 "2002-07-07T19:12:04Z")
In some provinces, it’s the Department of Justice, rather than the Department of the Attorney General, but the function is the same. There are some differences between the provincial and state officers, of course. For example, it’s my understanding that the prosecution of criminal offences is more decentralised in the U.S., and that in some states the State Attorney General does not have a role in the prosecution function. (Comments invited from U.S. Dopers if I’ve erred.) Are you looking for some particular function, or is it just a general inquiry? Context would help provide a more detailed answer. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cdn-equivilent-of-a-state-attorney-department/117617/6 "2002-07-08T01:30:34Z")
Northern Piper is correct about U.S. state Attorneys General. In the U.S., most states have an Attorney General, who is mainly responsibile for handling civil litigation on behalf of the state, as well as local prosecutors, most often one in each county. The local prosecutors may be known by several titles, including District Attorney, Prosecuting Attorney or State’s Attorney. They are responsible for prosecuting almost all local crimes, though in many states the Attorney General can prosecute certain crimes and appoint special prosecutors. Often the local prosecutor is an elected official, with a number of Assistant District Attorneys (or Deputy State’s Attorney, or whatever title) who do the day-to-day prosecuting. The state Attorney General is usually elected, and has a number of Assistant Attorney Generals to do the work of the department. Most municipalities and counties also have a chief law officer, know as the City Attorney, County Attorney, Town Attorney, etc., who is responsible for civil litigation on behalf of the municipality or county. City Attorneys, etc., are usually appointed, and for small municipalities may be practicing lawyers rather than full-time municipal employees. In the federal system, the U.S. Attorney General is the head of the Department of Justice. In each federal judicial district (there are 94 districts, each a state or part of a state) there is a U.S. Attorney, appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, and subordinate to the Attorney General. Each U.S. Attorney has a number of Assistant U.S. Attorneys to handle the work of the office. The U.S. Attorney’s office is responsible for handling both civil litigation involving the U.S. Government and prosecution of federal crimes in the district. Attorneys working directly for the Department of Justice, rather than a particular U.S. Attorney’s office, will also be involved in government civil litigation and in prosecutions. ---
**Author:** ![Stupendous\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Stupendous\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stupendous_man)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cdn-equivilent-of-a-state-attorney-department/117617/7 "2002-07-08T02:05:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Northern Piper \* > \*\* > Are you looking for some particular function, or is it just a general inquiry? Context would help provide a more detailed answer. \*\* I was thinking along the lines of reporting marketing scams… ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cdn-equivilent-of-a-state-attorney-department/117617/8 "2002-07-08T02:46:30Z")
Well, in some provinces there are consumer protection departments, separate from the AG/Justice Department, while in other provinces Consumer Protection is part of the AG/Justice Department. Here’s the link to the Ontario [Ministry of Consumer and Business Services](http://www.cbs.gov.on.ca/mcbs/english/welcome.htm). Consumer protection offices deal with civil aspects of consumer issues, and would likely be responsible for complaints of breaches of consumer protection laws, like licensing laws, right to return defective goods, and so on. But if the scam you’re facing is more serious, amounting to fraud, then the place to go would be the police. Unlike what you see in U.S. television shows, prosecutors in Canada are not involved in the investigation of possible crimes or interviews with witnesses [disclaimer: I’m not saying that actually happens in the U.S., just that it happens a lot on _Law and Order_ 😉 .) Bottom line: if you think a crime’s been committed, go to the police.