Thursday, May 13, 2010

Who has jurisdiction to try a case where a misdemeanor crime is committed on federal property in a small town?

For example, a person is charged with larceny for taking money out of a donation jar at a post office, which court will process the case first?Who has jurisdiction to try a case where a misdemeanor crime is committed on federal property in a small town?
To clear up a few small points....the case wouldn't be heard in a civil court at all as it's a criminal matter.





As for the question, it depends.





For a strict book answer, since the crime was committed on federal property, the federal government has jurisdiction thus the case would be heard in the federal courts.





In practicality, most federal facilities have agreements providing for concurrent jurisdiction with local law enforcement agencies. Which means a petty offense that the U.S. Attorney's office wasn't interested in would be turned over to the local authorities to be prosecuted at the state level.Who has jurisdiction to try a case where a misdemeanor crime is committed on federal property in a small town?
Wherever the crime happened is where it would be heard. It will be heard in that town or state and it can be held in a normal civil court which can do the sentencing to a federal.

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