Question and Answer

Question and Answer

Question and Answer

Question

Contrast the differences and similarities between the federal, state, and local levels of law enforcement.

Answer

Federal law enforcement is a form of law enforcement in federated nations which has jurisdiction across the whole country. Nations with a federal government are divided into a number of subdivisions, each of which can make its own laws and each of which has its own law enforcement agency or agencies, making federal law enforcement necessary to handle violations of the law which fall outside the jurisdiction of individual departments. In nations which lack a federated government, a law enforcement agency with country-wide jurisdiction is termed a national law enforcement agency, and may work slightly differently from federal law enforcement (Geller, William and Morris, 1992).

Agents who work for federal law enforcement organizations handle issues like border control, kidnapping, protecting heads of state, drug laws, domestic terrorism, crimes which cross internal borders, fraud against the government, counterfeiting, and other crimes which threaten national security. In many nations with a federal government, strict laws determine the jurisdiction of various agencies, protecting localized law enforcement agencies from interference while giving federal agencies the authority to move in when it is appropriate.

Uniformed police officers have general law enforcement duties. They maintain regular patrols and respond to calls for service. Much of their time is spent responding to calls and doing paperwork. They may direct traffic at the scene of an accident, investigate a burglary, or give first aid to an accident victim. In large police departments, officers usually are assigned to a specific type of duty. Many urban police agencies are involved in community policing—a practice in which an officer builds relationships with the citizens of local neighborhoods and mobilizes the public to help fight crime (Abrams et al, 1993).

Some police officers specialize in a particular field, such as chemical and microscopic analysis, training and firearms instruction, or handwriting and fingerprint identification. Others work with special units, such as horseback, bicycle, motorcycle, or harbor patrol; canine corps; special weapons and tactics (SWAT); or emergency response teams. A few local and special law enforcement officers primarily perform jail-related duties or work in courts (Cummings et al, 1937).

State police officers, sometimes called State troopers or highway patrol officers, arrest criminals Statewide and patrol highways to enforce motor vehicle laws and regulations. State police officers often issue traffic citations to motorists. At the ...