Introduction
When you commit a crime it can be filed under state jurisdiction or classified as criminal federal jurisdiction. It just depends upon how serious the crime was as to how you will be charged and tried. If the state is charging you then everything will be done right there within the state. If it is federal then the process is lengthy and totally different.
Differences in charges
When being tried in a criminal federal jurisdiction the court is actually held in the bigger cities of a state. If you are being charged with a federal crime this means you committed a crime that was carried out in more then one state. With the charges being done in a criminal federal jurisdiction no one will have to worry about which state will handle the process of a trial.
Since federal charges are more serious it will be best to hire an attorney that will represent you and handle the case in court. When a crime is committed across different states this means there could be witnesses from each state that will testify against you during the trial.
Laws
Laws are different between state level and at a federal level. When the charges are federal then any laws that the state has becomes obsolete and the laws at federal level are used. Sometimes this can make the charges even more serious especially if there is a huge difference between what the state allows and what the criminal federal jurisdiction allows. An excellent example is the on going fight over marijuana that is used for medical purposes. Colorado says it is ok and not against the law but, federal law says it is still illegal and will over ride the state law.
Sentencing
If the charges are at a federal level then they are very serious. When a crime is committed and you are caught and charged there is going to be consequences. If you would like to know more about what consequences go with the different charges then look at the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Keep in mind when looking through the guidelines that these are not going to be the mandatory penalties but, it will give you an idea of what might possibly happen.
The attorney that is in place to represent you during the trial will be able to explain the charges and what sentences you might be stuck with. This will all help the attorney prepare for when you appear in court.
Do not just hire any attorney to represent you when facing criminal federal charges. Make sure the attorney is able to handle any charges at the federal level. There is a vast amount of attorneys but many only specialize in a particular field. For instance an accident lawyer will not be able to handle a case that is at a federal level. They might however be able to give a name or two of some lawyers that you could talk with. Always ask lots of questions before making a decision on which lawyer to hire.
