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The Federal Process

Federal Agencies

Federal courts handle both criminal and civil cases.

The bulk of federal criminal cases comes as a result of enforcement by federal agencies. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the agency most commonly in the news. The FBI investigates violations of federal law. It also investigates acts of terrorism against U.S. citizens in foreign countries.

In some instances the FBI may become involved in crimes that on the surface have primarily state jurisdiction. Robbery or murder for example. Neither crime, involving ordinary citizens, is a violation of federal law. But suppose the suspect steals a car and makes a getaway into another state. The FBI would enter the case because taking a stolen car across a state line is against federal law. The FBI may capture the suspect on a charge of interstate transportation of a stolen motor vehicle, then return the suspect to the state for prosecution of the more serious offense under state law.

A maze of federal agencies is empowered to act on criminal matters. The best known are the FBI, the Secret Services, Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Customs Agency Service and Postal Inspection Service.

The Secret Service is best known for protecting the president. In addition, the agency enforces laws relating to money and government bonds and the news media would deal with the Secret Service in forgery of federal instruments or counterfeiting cases.