The institution deals with the fight against high corruption offences, which have caused damage greater than €200,000 or if the object of the crime is property or sums of money amounting to over €10,000.

[3][4][5] According to a report of the European Union, the Romanian DNA had "established an impressive track record in terms of solving high and medium level corruption cases".

[7] The legislative framework which set up this organisation gave the DNA jurisdiction (authority) over high- and medium-level corruption cases.

They are proposed by the Minister of Justice, appointed by President of Romania and approved by the Superior Council of Magistracy for a period of three years, with the possibility of being reappointed one more time.

In order to efficiently solve corruption cases and other specific activities related to criminal prosecution, the DNA prosecutors are supported by the officers and agents of judicial police, as well as other specialists qualified in other fields: economy, finance, banking, customs, etc.

[12] Complaints from citizens and legal persons can be of three types:[12] The following authorities may also refer corruption-related offences to the DNA:[12] The 2014 Anti-corruption report of the European Commission has highlighted the Romanian DNA as one of five examples of good practices in anti-corruption agencies across the EU:[13] DNA has built a notable track record of non-partisan investigations and prosecutions into allegations of corruption at the highest levels of politics, the judiciary and other sectors such as tax administration, customs, energy, transport, construction, healthcare, etc.

Key to these results has been DNA’s structure which incorporates, apart from prosecutors who lead and supervise investigations, judicial police and economic, financial and IT expertsBy 2015, acting under Laura Codruța Kövesi's leadership, the agency had gained traction against high-level corruption.

[14] The agency currently employs 120 prosecutors working on more than 6,000 cases, and has successfully prosecuted dozens of mayors, five MPs, two ex-ministers and a former prime minister in 2014 alone.

[19] The former President of Romania, Traian Băsescu, interviewed in May 2016, called for the arrest of judges and prosecutors who breached defendants' human rights.