SOKO – Der Prozess (English: SOKO – The Trial) is a German television crime‑drama event that functions as a crossover within the long‑running SOKO franchise. Produced by the public broadcaster ZDF, the program was first broadcast in 2013 as a multi‑part special that brought together investigators from several regional SOKO series—including SOKO Leipzig, SOKO Stuttgart, SOKO Köln, SOKO Wismar, and SOKO Donau—to collaborate on a single, complex case that culminates in a courtroom trial.
Production and broadcast
- Country: Germany
- Language: German
- Original network: ZDF
- Original release: 2013 (airing dates varied by region; the event was presented as a series of linked episodes).
- Format: Television miniseries / special event; each episode was produced by the respective SOKO team’s production crew, with a unifying storyline focused on the trial.
Concept
The special was conceived to celebrate the SOKO brand’s popularity and to provide a narrative bridge among the otherwise independent series. The plot centers on a high‑profile criminal case investigated separately by the different police commissions (Sonderkommissionen). Evidence gathered by each team converges, leading to a joint prosecution and a trial that is depicted across the linked episodes. The crossover format allowed for character interaction across series and highlighted procedural differences among the regional police units.
Cast and characters
Key investigators from each participating SOKO series appear, portrayed by the regular actors of those shows. The courtroom scenes feature recurring legal characters, including prosecutors and defense attorneys, some of whom were introduced specifically for the event.
Reception
The crossover was noted by German television critics for its ambitious integration of multiple series and for providing fans with a rare opportunity to see cross‑regional collaboration among the SOKO teams. Audience ratings indicated a modest increase in viewership compared with standard episodes of the individual series, reflecting interest in the special format.
Legacy
SOKO – Der Prozess is referenced in discussions of television crossovers in German media and is considered a notable example of franchise synergy within public‑service broadcasting. The event set a precedent for future collaborative productions among the SOKO series, though no direct sequel has been produced to date.