In the case of minor offences, the public prosecutor may decide to discuss the offence with you himself instead of taking you to court. The discussion with the public prosecutor takes place during a so-called OM hearing, which stands for Openbaar Ministerie hearing, meaning in English Public Prosecutor's Office hearing. You are allowed to bring a lawyer to this session.

The public prosecutor will talk with you about the criminal offense. Moreover, the public prosecutor will inform you about the punishment he thinks would be appropriate in this situation. You have decide (together with your attorney) whether you want to accept or not the offer of the prosecutor. If you accept the prosecutor's deal, you do not have to appear before the criminal court.

The penalty imposed by the public prosecutor is recorded on your judicial documentation, also called criminal record. It is therefore wise to consult a attorney, prior to the OM hearing.

If you did receive an invitation for a OM hearing or if you regret that you accepted the offer of the prosecutor, please feel free to contact our criminal law specialists to discuss your options.