Which phrase typically identifies the prosecuting party in a New York criminal case caption?

• A. The People
• B. United States
• C. The People of the State of New York
• D. The State

Answer: (C)

In a New York criminal case caption, the prosecuting party is identified as The People of the State of New York. This formal designation signals that the government, on behalf of the state, brings the case against the defendant. It’s the standard caption language used in official New York filings, reflecting the state’s role as the sovereign prosecutor through the district attorney’s office.

The United States would be used for federal prosecutions, not a state case. The State alone is too vague for a caption, since it doesn’t specify the state’s governmental body as the prosecuting entity. The People is a common shorthand, but the official caption consistently uses the full phrase The People of the State of New York. In practice, you’d see The People of the State of New York v. [Defendant].