In case you face federal criminal charges or are subjected to federal criminal investigation, it is imperative to know what is at stake and how the process will take place. If someone pays attention to the local news, it would be clear that federal and state laws vary greatly from each other at certain issues.
One of the biggest differences involves jurisdiction over the state and federal charges. Although state and federal charges share some sort of similarities, it also comes with some key differences. The federal criminal system also shares some of the common or identical features to the state system.
Having legal guidance from an expert federal criminal lawyer would help a lot in deciphering the intricacies. Let’s have a look at some key differences between criminal charges and state charges.
- The Difference in Prosecutors
Prosecutors dealing with federal criminal charges are known as Assistant United States Attorneys. These attorneys usually have fewer cases as compared to the state prosecutors, and they get maximum time to invest in the cases they fight. This also helps them to pre-screen the cases than the state prosecutors.
But on the contrary, when it comes to the state court, the police take the decision whom to charge. In addition, the prosecutors do not have any role to play during the charging decision or initial arrest.
- The Difference in the Judges
Two different types of federal judges listen to the federal charges. First is, the United States Magistrate Judges. These judges get an appointment for ten years of tenure, and they work under the direction given by the presiding District Judges of the United States.
The second one is United States Distinct Judge, and they get their appointment from the President of the United States as well as confirmation by the United States Senate. These judges usually have the power to serve throughout life, and only Senates can remove them by impeachment. But when it comes to state court, they have only one judge who looks after the hearings of the cases.
- The Different in the Bail System
In the state court of law, bail is more like of provision of coming with the money as well as collateral to pay a bail guarantor for posting the bond. But on the contrary, in federal courts, the judge will impose different conditions of release as well as direction by an officer in federal pretrial services.
Instead of posting the cash, the defendant needs to report the pretrial services and need to adhere to some of the strict rules of release. Federal criminal lawyer in New Jersey or any other locations in the United States can help to get bail more easily than a prosecutor could do in following state laws.
The sentencing procedure in the federal court of law completely depends on the guidelines stated in the federal laws. It also depends on a number of federal laws that looks after the fact how a sentence will be imposed in the court. Make sure to get in touch with a professional lawyer to get things easily and in a hassle-free manner.