A Detailed Guide To DC Federal Arrests
Understand the basics of DC Federal Arrests, including the arrest process and legal representation. Scrofano Law can provide experienced guidance.
What Is a Federal Arrest?
A federal arrest occurs when a person is arrested by law enforcement officials acting on behalf of the federal government. These officials may be federal agents or state or local law enforcement personnel who have been deputized to work as federal officers.
Federal arrests are carried out for violations of federal laws, including drug trafficking charges, bank robbery charges, and other criminal offenses that involve interstate commerce.
The federal government has a lot of different law enforcement agencies, each with unique powers and responsibilities. The significant agencies include the following:
- FBI
- DEA
- ATF
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
The FBI investigates cases involving federal laws, such as drug trafficking, cybercrime, and mail fraud. The bureau also investigates terrorism, espionage, and public corruption locally.
If you are involved in any FBI cases, hire an Experienced Federal Criminal Lawyer to claim and protect your rights.
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
The DEA focuses on illegal drugs that cross state lines or have been smuggled into the United States from other countries.
It works closely with local police departments to investigate drug-related crimes, such as gang activity or smuggling, by organized crime groups like drug cartels from Mexico or Colombia.
Federal drug cases can significantly impact your life, so hire a federal drug lawyer if you are involved in one.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
The ATF enforces laws related to alcohol, tobacco products, and explosives such as fireworks. It also investigates fires or explosions involving hazardous materials or devices used illegally by individuals such as terrorists.
If you have violated the federal firearms act, hire a federal firearm violation lawyer to help you hold on to your Second Amendment rights.
How Do DC Federal Arrests Work?
It’s common to hear about law enforcement officers making arrests in Washington, DC. But how does the actual process work?
A suspect is first picked up by local law enforcement and taken to the police station for investigation, just as they would with any other type of arrest. This could be at any time and doesn’t have to be scheduled.
Secondly, local law enforcement hands custody of the suspect to a federal agent, who will accompany them during transport to their destination in DC or wherever. The officer will take care of any paperwork needed along the way, including fingerprinting and photographing suspects.
The officer also collects personal information like birthdates or Social Security numbers that may be required later down the road.
Where Do DC Federal Arrests Go?
All the traffic, misdemeanor, and felony cases brought in Washington, DC, against people arrested and charged with a crime go through the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
The Superior Court is also where sentencing hearings occur for people convicted of crimes, pleaded guilty, and sentenced to probation or jail time by a judge. In addition, oath keepers are chosen from this pool of residents when trials occur at this level of government.
Although an Experienced Criminal Defence Attorney DC should represent you before speaking to a police officer or FBI agents, you can enquire with the inspector general to know where your arrest will go.
Who Has Authority to Make Arrests on Federal Land in DC?
So, who can make arrests on federal land in DC?
The DC Police Department
The DC Police are responsible for investigating federal charges on all federal property in Washington, including the United States capitol building and any federally owned buildings within the city limits of Washington, DC. But you can only be arrested by a federal officer who is either a U.S. Marshal or the FBI.
The FBI
The FBI can arrest anyone who violates federal laws anytime and anywhere in America. They don’t need relevant federal court documents like an arrest warrant from homeland security or other state authorities such as federal prosecutors or judges.
However, they may need to have probable cause before making an arrest.
DC Federal Arrests Records
A federal arrest record consists of all arrests made by law enforcement officers working for the federal government. These records are kept by the FBI and other agencies that have jurisdiction over the capital building.
How to Check Federal Arrests in DC?
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC) is an excellent place to find federal arrest records. You can search NCIC by name or by arrest record number.
Federal arrest records are available online at https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/field-offices.
You can also use the NCIC’s website to request an FBI fingerprint card check by providing your name, address, and other identifying details. When you submit your request, you’ll be given an identification number to reference when searching for your record.
If you’re looking for a specific person and want to know if they have a criminal record, you can search for their name on the searchable table using the above link.
If you don’t know their full name, it’s helpful to use their date of birth or Social Security number. Ensure you enter the details correctly, as they appear on their government ID.
Unfortunately, the arrest records are not always up-to-date! If someone was arrested recently and hasn’t been indicted yet, or even if they have been, their record may not be available at the site. You can call the FBI field office directly for more information about this situation at 1-800-225-5324.
Federal Arrest Search
A federal arrest search is a database that contains the names and addresses of individuals who federal law enforcement agencies have arrested. In this database, you can look up arrests and find out what they were for.
The FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division (CJIS) manages the federal arrest search database. To access the federal arrest search database, you may need to submit a request form with your name, address, and Social Security number or date of birth.
You can also request information on people arrested by state or local police departments if they were taken into custody by federal authorities during their investigation.
Where to Find a DC Criminal Lawyer
At the moment, many people are unaware of the ramifications of a federal arrest. It could end up costing you your life! Therefore, you must hire an experienced DC criminal lawyer to help you figure out what is going on and how to handle the situation effectively.
Your lawyer will help you understand your rights and responsibilities and guide you through the criminal justice process. They will also help you fight for a favorable outcome in court and negotiate a plea bargain if necessary.
Contact Scrofano Law for a Case Evaluation
Whether a crime occurred in the City of Washington, DC, or other federal courts, Scrofano Law is here to help. Our experienced team of criminal defense lawyers is dedicated to providing you with the best possible representation and will fight for your rights.
Call us for a case evaluation with an experienced attorney to help walk you through this critical first step of the legal process.
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