Distinguish and analyze the differences between federal, state, & local law enforcement in terms of jurisdiction & authority.
There are three main judicial and legislative jurisdictions that exist in the U. S. and they are classified as federal, state, and local. All these jurisdictions have created a broad variety of law enforcement agencies. These law enforcement agencies have little uniformity among the jurisdictions towards the authority, naming and functions of these enforcement agencies. The state, local, and federal enforcement agencies currently interact with United States homeland security via fusion centers (Holmes, 2012). There may be to some extent more than seventy fusion centers that currently operate in thirty seven states. These fusion centers may be a new concept in the pool, policing and analyzing information at all levels from these law enforcement agencies. They may be able to look for meaningful blueprints and feasible intelligence. Even though the fusion centers were initially designed to distribute information, these fusion centers may not be uniform. These centers perform different functions some investigate, others make arrest and finally others exist only for information sharing.
The primary functional responsibilities of the federal law enforcement office or agencies may be to enforce the federal criminal law. Their standard functions may be the avoidance, detection, and examination of crime and arresting of the alleged offenders. They attend to crime-fighting at the U.S. national level (PoliceOne.com, 2011). A number of agencies associated with the “federal level” may be the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), DHS (Department of Homeland Security) and CBP (Customs and Border Protection). Every one of these departments focuses in its particular area; however, they have the right to govern their department all through the U. S (Schmalleger, 2011). For instance, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) polices civil rights, terrorism, organized and cyber crime, and also public corruption; whilst the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) focuses on the manufacture, growing and circulation of controlled substances.
Lastly, local enforcement agencies may include county and city agencies and characterize a “third level” of law enforcement actions in the U. S. These enforcement agencies may be in a variety of capacities and accounts for the bulk of the agencies that may be currently in operation. The local enforcement agencies may patrol on foot, by vehicle or even a bicycle. Enforcement agencies, and also state officers, have the power to investigate and apprehend violators of the federal laws. For example, they can arrest illegal immigrants and those who aid these illegal immigrants, without getting in touch with the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Overall, the differences between the federal, state and local law enforcement agencies are solely dependent in their jurisdictions or demographics in which they have capability to serve the people. They may assist each other at times where there may be a need and this provides a great advantage when combating crime (GoLawEnforcement.com, 2008).
References
GoLawEnforcement.com. (2008). Law Enforcement Agencies. Retrieved March 12, 2013; from,
http://golawenforcement.com/LawEnforcementAgencies.htm
Holmes, M. (2012). Homeland Security as International Security? The Case for International
Relations as Disciplinary Model. Journal of Homeland Security & Emergency
Management. Vol. 9 Issue 1. EBSCOhost ISSN: 1547-7355
PoliceOne.com. (2011). Federal Law Enforcement. Retrieved March 12, 2013; from,
http://www.policeone.com/federal-law-enforcement/
Schmalleger, F. (2011). Criminal Justice Today: An Introductory Text for the 21st Century. (11th
Ed). Prentice Hall.
