The Focus of Federal Law Enforcement and State Law Enforcement in Arizona

(The content below was transcribed from an interview done with Acacia Law. We think you'll find it much easier
and more enjoyable to read this way.)

Interviewer: So right now in Arizona, what is the focus of federal employees versus state?

Acacia Law: The number one area is immigration offenses. So human smuggling is a huge area of prosecution, particularly down here in Southern Arizona. The second large area, obviously, would be drug running.

Interviewer: How about gang-related offenses? Is that an important area on the federal radar?

Acacia Law: Yes and no. That one is probably split up pretty equally between the state courts and the federal court. Again, that amount of cases being bought to trial probably has more to do with what agency is conducting the investigation.

Interviewer: Are there any other types of crimes that the federal law enforcement officials would be concentrating their efforts on?

Interstate Criminal Offenses Will Be Prosecuted Federally

Acacia Law: Obviously any kind of crime that's interstate. So for example, if you had a gang that was in Arizona, New Mexico, California, and Nevada and there was coordination between those various branches, so the crime involves different state jurisdictions, the federal law enforcement officials are more likely to be responsible for that prosecution.