Law enforcement agencies operate at various levels and their jurisdiction is determined by federal or state laws within a country and international treaties for multinational agencies. In the US, each state has various agencies with jurisdiction determined by the state legislature. Federal agencies investigate crimes with a multi-state component, while international agencies serve as information clearinghouses. Jurisdictional issues can complicate investigations and prosecutions, with multiple agencies sharing jurisdiction in some cases.
Law enforcement agencies operate at all levels, including local government, county, state, country, and even multinational or international. Law enforcement jurisdiction is determined by federal or state laws within a country and by international treaties or agreements for multinational or international agencies. In many cases, more than one agency will have jurisdiction at the same time; however, one of the agencies generally has the authority to usurp authority from the other law enforcement agencies.
Within most countries, there are local law enforcement agencies as well as national or federal agencies. In the United States, for example, each state has a variety of law enforcement agencies, such as the city or town police department, county sheriff’s departments, and state police. Typically, the city police will have jurisdiction within the legal city limits, while the sheriff will handle matters outside the city limits but within the county. State police often maintain jurisdiction over all state highways, although they may technically have jurisdiction over the entire state in which they wish to exercise it. The state legislature in each state determines the jurisdiction of law enforcement agencies within their state.
Federal or national law enforcement jurisdiction is commonly determined by a constitution or by the national legislature. In some cases, the national law enforcement agency deals with serious matters brought to it by local agencies, such as in Australia. In the United States, federal law enforcement agencies are charged with investigating crimes that have a multi-state component. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), for example, investigates major drug trafficking operations, while the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigates bank robberies and kidnappings when the victim is transported across state lines.
International law enforcement jurisdiction is often the result of formal treaties or informal cooperation between many countries. Often, the role of an international law enforcement agency is that of an information clearinghouse. The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), for example, serves as a central repository for information on criminal investigations that cross national borders, such as international money laundering or terrorism. INTERPOL operates under a constitution which member states agree to abide by at all times.
In some cases, law enforcement jurisdiction is shared by more than one agency. At times, jurisdictional issues can become complicated and actually hamper the investigation and prosecution of crimes. Within the United States, there are a number of areas where a tribal, state, and federal law enforcement agency could invoke jurisdiction over a crime. Sometimes the matter is resolved through an agreement between the agencies, while, in other cases, a defendant may find himself charged with the same offense in more than one court.
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