Palm Harbor, FL criminal defense attorney Robert D. Eckard discusses how federal and state criminal cases are different. He explains that state criminal cases involve offenses that occur within a particular state’s jurisdiction, whereas federal crimes often cross state lines, creating different jurisdictional considerations. Federal cases are prosecuted in federal court by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and involve federal agencies such as the FBI, DEA, Homeland Security, and ICE. He notes that sentencing guidelines differ significantly between state and federal cases. Additionally, the resources available to federal prosecutors are typically far greater and more sophisticated than those of local prosecuting offices.