An overview of the PATRIOT Act

The PATRIOT Act officially the United and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act was quickly developed and passed after the terroristic attack on September 11, 2001. The PATRIOT Act gives state, federal, and international intelligence agencies the power to conduct surveillance without first going into court and obtaining a warrant.

MARITIME JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

In accordance with Article III of the United States Constitution, the federal government has jurisdiction over all admiralty and maritime cases. This means that the federal government has jurisdiction over all criminal offenses that are committed on the high seas, on any other waters within the jurisdiction of the United States, or on any vessel that belongs to the United States, to a United States citizen, or to a corporation, which vessel is located within the admiralty or maritime jurisdiction of the United States and not within the jurisdiction of a state.

Receipt of Stolen Government Property and Improper Disposal of Government Property

Receiving stolen government property is a federal offense. The prosecution must show the following elements existed in order to try a defendant for the offense of receiving stolen government property: The defendant received, concealed, or retained stolen property; the stolen property belonged to the United States; the defendant knew that the property had been embezzled, stolen, or converted; the defendant had the intent to convert the government property for his own use.

CLEMENCY FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS

In some states, legislatures have recently enacted laws that grant the possibility of clemency by the states' governors for domestic violence victims who have been convicted of certain offenses, such as murder and manslaughter. In those states, the governors are entitled to request a clemency investigation by the states' parole boards into cases where defendants have pleaded guilty or have been convicted of those offenses when the offenses were directly related to the defendants' being victimized by domestic violence.

Bribery and Financial Institutions

Bribery with respect to financial institutions is a federal offense.