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Wednesday, August 27, 2014
When is the Federal Government Involved in a Criminal Case?
When we think of "the government," we tend to
think of the federal government in Washington, D.C.: the White House, Congress,
etc. However, the reality is that on criminal matters, most cases involve local
and state issues. Still, the federal government is obviously a major player in
the criminal justice game, and when facing federal charges, you will need an
experienced federal
criminal lawyer on your side.
As noted, most criminal cases are handled by state and local
authorities. Federal authorities are empowered to intervene only when a
specific federal statute is violated. In very specific circumstances the
federal government will pursue charges against a defendant acquitted in a state
court, but Justice Department policy makes that a rare event.
Federal criminal charges are often leveled when an alleged
crime involves the crossing of state lines. Common examples of these cases
include:
- Terrorist
threats (which are often made using communication lines that cross
state borders)
- Drug-related
crimes
- Fraud
It's too simplistic to say that federal charges are more
"serious" than state charges, but federal cases do present unique
challenges to defendants and their representation. Federal investigative and
prosecutorial entities have greater resources than their state and local
counterparts.
The Cochran Firm's federal criminal lawyers have experience
representing clients in federal court. We know how to defend your rights during
a federal prosecution.
If you've been accused of a crime and need an experienced
federal criminal lawyer, please contact The Cochran
Firm today for a free consultation.
posted by Admin at 6:46 AM
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