(OVW) Jurisdiction and Venue Lesson

Jurisdiction and Venue Lesson 

 

Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction has two main parts. First is a geographical area. For example, a city, county or state is an example of a jurisdiction. Jurisdiction also refers to a power to enforce laws and administer justice. For example, the Drug Enforcement Agency investigates drugs while the CSX Railroad Police protect CSX property and investigate train derailments.

 

Levels of Jurisdiction Federal Federal police report at the highest level and have full authority given to them. They have full jurisdiction for all federal law enforcement. State State police may also be known as Highway Patrol. Their job is to enforce laws and regulations to make roads safer. County County police are generally only found in city counties and have county wide jurisdiction. In some counties, you have county beliefs as well as a sheriff's Department. Municipal Controlled and paid by the local government often have fewer rights than the state police and have restrictions on what arms they are allowed to carry.

 

 

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Venue

Venue has more to do with who will prosecute a criminal case. Usually venue is defined by law. In Fulton County – which includes the large cities of Atlanta, Roswell and College Park – there are many arrests every day. Virtually all are prosecuted in the Fulton County Justice System. For most offenders who are under 17 years old, their cases will go the Fulton County Juvenile Court. For offenders who commit a misdemeanor – a minor offense which has a maximum punishment of one year in jail, such as shoplifting less than $500 in value – their case will go to the Fulton County State Court. The Fulton County Solicitor's Office will be the office that prosecutes the case. If the crime is a felony – a major offense which has a minimum punishment of one year and up to life in prison (some can even get the death penalty) – it is tried in the Fulton County Superior Court. The Fulton County District Attorney will prosecute all felony cases. Most larger cities and counties will have State Courts to help manage the larger case loads. In many counties throughout Georgia there is no State Court and all cases are handled by the Superior Court. Finally, if the crime is a federal crime – such as drug trafficking or shooting a federal agent – then those cases will be prosecuted by the Office of the United States Attorney in the federal district courts.

 

Venues Image State Court --Most criminal cases, probate (involving wills and estates) --Most contract cases, tort cases (personal injury), family law (marriages, divorces, adoptions), etc. Superior Court --All felony, criminal cases, civil cases involving more than $10,000 and misdemeanor and infraction appeals from District Court are tried in Superior Court. US. District Court --Criminal cases involving violation of federal laws (kidnapping, bank robbery, drug trafficking, etc), civil cases involving torts under federal law, the constitution or US. Treaties. --Civil cases between parties of different states.

 

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