prosecution

noun | \ ˌprä-si-ˈkyü-shən \ | pros·e·cu·tion

1. : the act or process of prosecuting; especially : the institution and carrying on of a criminal action involving the process of seeking formal charges against a person and pursuing those charges to final judgment : the institution and carrying on of a criminal action involving the process of seeking formal charges against a person and pursuing those charges to final judgment

2. : the party by whom criminal proceedings are instituted or conducted — compare defense 3, plaintiff