Chicago and Dallas/Ft. Worth Federal Offense & State Offense Lawyers

In most cases, if you are convicted of a crime, it will be persecuted by the state in which the crime was committed. However, certain crimes are handled on the federal level, which are much more serious offenses. In the event you are facing a criminal conviction, you may be wondering what the difference between state and federal court is. Federal courts were created under the United States Constitution and have jurisdiction over criminal cases in which the federal court is bringing a case against the defendant. State offenses, on the other hand, are created under the state statute and handled by the state.

It is important to understand that the jurisdiction of state courts is very broad, ranging from minor traffic violations to robberies, broken contracts, family disputes, divorce, and even many serious felonies. In general, most cases involving citizens are tried at the state level. The federal court system is involved in cases such as bankruptcy, copyright, patent, and some maritime matters. Federal courts also have jurisdiction over the U.S. government. For example, if the U.S. government is sued or involved in a case, the federal court will preside.

Examples of State Crimes vs Federal Crimes

It is important to note that state crimes differ by state, but most crimes committed fall under the umbrella of the state. Examples of common state crimes in Texas and Illinois include:

  • Homicide and murder
  • Assault and battery
  • Robbery
  • Domestic violence
  • Aggravated assault
  • Felonies
  • Grand theft
  • False imprisonment
  • Fraud
  • Drug trafficking
  • Sexual assault and battery
  • Weapons offenses
  • Stalking or aggravated stalking

Federal crimes, on the other hand, are any infraction of federal law. These types of crimes are investigated by government agencies such as the FBI, IRS, or DEA. In the event a federal offense goes to court, it will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney, as opposed to a state or district attorney. If there is a conviction, the sentence could result in jail time in a federal prison instead of a state correctional facility. Examples of common federal crimes include:

  • White collar crimes
  • Money laundering (international)
  • Identity theft
  • Drug trafficking
  • Hate crimes
  • Gun crimes
  • Computer crimes
  • Credit card and ATM fraud
  • Major thefts, such as stealing art
  • Organized crime
  • Public corruption crimes

If you are facing either a state or federal criminal conviction in Texas or Illinois and would like to learn more about your rights, please contact Toro Law Office today. We speak fluent Spanish and English and are prepared to handle your case today. We understand how scary and stressful being accused of a crime is, which is why we are here to help. Please give us a call and schedule your free consultation right away.