What Are the Differences Between Federal and State Crimes?

Federal crimes are usually committed in federal jurisdiction and involve the violation of the United States federal criminal laws. Federal agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Homeland Security are responsible for the investigation of federal crimes. Examples of federal crimes are:

• Tax evasion
• Electoral fraud
• Lynching
• Organized crimes
• Federal hate crimes
• Treason
• Illegal weapons trade
• Terrorism
• Credit card fraud
• The assassination of a federal government official
• Crimes that occur across multiple state borders

Unlike federal crimes, Nevada state crimes are prosecuted under title 15 of the state’s laws. The Nevada Department of Public Safety alongside the state’s cities and counties law enforcement agencies investigate state crimes. Criminal trials at the state level occur at the state’s criminal courts. Nevada state crimes include:

• Larceny
• Carjacking
• Arson
• Drug possession
• DUI
• Homicide
• Robbery

Some crimes may violate both the state and federal laws. Both the state and federal government agencies may investigate and prosecute such crimes under the Dual Sovereignty Doctrine.

How Does the Nevada State Court System Differ from the Federal Court System?

Nevada state’s court system guides the judicial process in the prosecution of state offenses while the federal court system involves the trial procedures of the federal judiciary.

The Nevada state judiciary has four levels in its court system:

• Municipal courts
• Justice courts
• District courts
• The Supreme courts

The municipal and justice courts handle lesser civil filings such as traffic offenses and have limited jurisdictions in the state. The justice courts handle misdemeanor crimes and civil disputes of less than $15,000. The district courts’ judges preside over all types of disputes in the state. The district courts also hear appeal cases from the municipal and justice courts. The Nevada Supreme Court is the court of the last instance responsible for reviewing appeals from the district courts. The court has seven justices who decide if the cases heard at the other courts adhered to the court laws.

The Nevada state court system is based on the Nevada Code of Judicial Conduct which differs from the federal courts’ rules and procedures. While the president nominates federal court judges who may hold a lifetime appointment, Nevada state judges are usually elected for a few years.

How Many Federal Courts are There in Nevada?

In the U.S State of Nevada, there are two federal courts:

• United States District Court for the District of Nevada
• United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Nevada

The United States District Court for the District of Nevada hears federal cases from all the areas in the state. It has courthouses located in Las Vegas and Reno:

333 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, NV 89101
(702) 464–5400

400 S. Virginia St.
Reno, NV 89501
(775) 686–5800

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Nevada hears federal bankruptcy cases in Nevada. The court has locations in the cities of Las Vegas and Reno.

Foley Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse
300 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Phone: (702) 527–7000

C. Clifton Young Federal Building
and U.S. Courthouse
300 Booth Street
Reno, NV 89509
Phone: (775) 326–2100

Are Federal Cases Public Records?

Eligible members of the public may access records of federal cases. The federal law generally allows interested persons to access records maintained by government bodies including federal cases. Interested persons may obtain federal case records from its custodian which may be the clerk of court. The public may also get federal case information online. It should be noted that some records are exempted from the public’s access. Records that contain information that may breach an individual’s privacy are unavailable to the public, except to eligible persons. Records with the information of minors are also inaccessible to persons without a court order.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites often make searching simpler, as they are not limited by geographic location, and search engines on these sites may help when starting a search for a specific or multiple records. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties usually must provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that person resides in or was accused in.

Third-party sites are independent from government sources, and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party sites may vary.

How to Find Federal Courts Records Online

To obtain Nevada federal court records, interested persons may use the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system. The PACER site has a database containing all U.S federal court records. Persons interested in using the PACER system may visit the site and create an account. To look up Nevada federal court records, users of the PACER system can search by the location of the federal court that the case was filed. Users who have problems finding a Nevada federal court case can use the PACER Case Locator to get a listing of the U.S federal court locations and case numbers. If users find desired Nevada federal court records, they can get copies with a fee of $0.03 per page and $3 for a document (30 pages) following the fee schedule. Fee Waivers may apply for eligible persons.

How to Find Federal Court Records in Nevada?

Interested individuals can get federal court records in Nevada at the federal court where the case was filed. These records are available in-person or via mail.

Interested parties who wish to obtain federal court records of the United States District Court for the District of Nevada may visit the clerks of court’s office locations. To obtain federal court records in-person, interested parties are required to request desired records at the clerk’s office on weekdays within the hours of 9:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m. Requestors may also send written requests via U.S mail to the clerk’s office. Requests should contain information on the desired federal case to facilitate search. Fees may apply following the court’s fee schedule. Persons may address mails to:

333 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, NV 89101
400 S. Virginia St.
Reno, NV 89501

Members of the public can access United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Nevada’s federal court records on the public access terminals available at the clerk’s office. Physical copies of Nevada federal court records can be printed from the public access terminals at $0.10 per page. For records obtained in-person at the clerk’s office, inquirers can get 10 copies of requested records for a fee of $0.50 per page and $11 certification fee per document. Inquirers that wish to obtain records via mail may prepare a written request, including information such as case number, debtor’s name, and documents to be copied. Charges of $31 for search fee and $0.50 per page of desired records apply. Inquirers may pay all costs in the form of a bank cashier’s check, money orders, or personal checks. Requests may be sent to:

United States Bankruptcy Court
District of Nevada
300 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89101

United States Bankruptcy Court
District of Nevada
300 Booth Street
Reno, NV 89509

Can Federal Crimes Be Dismissed in Nevada?

The dismissal of federal crimes in Nevada means that all criminal charges against a defendant are dropped and the case proceedings are terminated by the court. Though rare, dismissal of federal crimes may happen in some situations. When there are unnecessary delays in federal case proceedings, it may violate the defendant’s right to a speedy trial. The defendant’s party can move a motion for the dismissal of the case due to this violation. Persons who have their cases dismissed may not be re-indicted for the same offenses following the U.S Double Jeopardy law, except if there was a mistrial.

How Do I Clear My Federal Criminal Record?

Individuals with federal criminal records may clear them by filing a petition to seal or expunge records at the court where the criminal case was heard. Upon the filing of the petition, a court hearing follows and the judge reviews the petition. The judge decides if the reasons for clearing the intended criminal records are feasible or not, under the law. If granted, the moving party may have desired federal criminal records cleared. However, federal criminal records that involve juvenile activity may be inaccessible to the public.