WHY ARE THERE SO MANY TYPES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT? (FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL POLICE EXPLAINED)
Summary
TLDRThis video explores the structure and roles of different levels of law enforcement in the United States. It covers federal, state, and local police agencies, highlighting their jurisdictions and responsibilities. The video explains how various police forces, from FBI agents to city police, work together and outlines key differences in training, standards, and focus areas. Using entertaining examples, the video also demonstrates how police jurisdictions function and how officers can collaborate across boundaries. The video ends by recommending a book on the U.S. Marshals and promoting an Audible trial offer.
Takeaways
- 👮 Police in the U.S. operate at different levels: federal, state, and local, with each having distinct responsibilities.
- 🌍 Federal law enforcement agencies like the FBI, DEA, and ATF enforce federal laws and are overseen by the Department of Justice (DOJ) or Homeland Security (DHS).
- 🚓 State police, such as the California Highway Patrol, enforce state laws and often focus on highways and rural areas. Their jurisdiction is limited to their respective states.
- 🏙️ Local police, which include city, county, and town police, enforce local laws and ordinances, with larger forces like the NYPD or LAPD handling more specialized tasks.
- 🔍 Jurisdiction limits apply, but police can continue to pursue a suspect outside of their jurisdiction under the 'Fresh Pursuit' doctrine.
- 💰 Federal law enforcement is much larger and better funded than state and local departments, with a combined DOJ and DHS budget of $16.1 billion in 2022.
- 🌱 Despite state legalization of marijuana, federal law enforcement can still make arrests for possession since it remains illegal under federal law.
- 🏞️ Rural areas, especially in states like Alaska, often rely heavily on state police, as local police may be limited or absent.
- 👥 Law enforcement agencies at different levels frequently collaborate, such as in federal task forces where local, state, and federal officers work together.
- 📚 Police training and entry requirements vary by department, with federal agencies typically requiring higher education levels and specialized training.
Q & A
Why are there so many different police departments in the United States?
-The United States has various levels of law enforcement to enforce laws across different jurisdictions. These levels include federal, state, county, city, and town police, each responsible for maintaining law and order within their designated areas.
What are some examples of federal law enforcement agencies?
-Some examples of federal law enforcement agencies include the FBI, DEA, U.S. Marshals, Border Patrol, Secret Service, and the ATF. These agencies enforce federal laws and often have specialized areas of focus.
How does jurisdiction work between different types of law enforcement agencies?
-Jurisdiction limits where a law enforcement agency can typically enforce the law. Local police enforce laws within their city, town, or county. State police enforce laws across the entire state, and federal agencies handle cases that involve federal law or cross state lines.
Can state and local police enforce federal laws?
-While state and local police primarily enforce state and local laws, they may also enforce federal laws if necessary. However, federal agencies have primary responsibility for enforcing federal law.
What is 'fresh pursuit' and how does it affect police jurisdiction?
-Fresh pursuit allows a police officer to continue pursuing a suspect even if they leave the officer's initial jurisdiction. For example, if a crime is committed within a town, the town police can chase the suspect outside their town boundaries under the fresh pursuit doctrine.
How do federal law enforcement agencies differ from state and local agencies?
-Federal law enforcement agencies enforce federal laws and often focus on specific areas such as drugs (DEA) or firearms (ATF). They operate under the Department of Justice or Department of Homeland Security. State and local agencies enforce state and local laws, with state police handling statewide issues and local police focusing on specific cities or counties.
What is the primary function of state police in the United States?
-State police enforce state laws and often handle traffic enforcement on highways. They may also serve as the primary law enforcement in rural areas where local police presence is limited.
Why don't all U.S. states have state police?
-Most U.S. states have some form of state police, but Hawaii is an exception as it does not have a statewide police force. Instead, law enforcement is handled by county agencies.
How do local police forces vary in size and function across different areas?
-Local police forces vary depending on the size and needs of the community they serve. For example, large cities like New York City have police departments with thousands of officers, while small towns may have only one or two officers. The size and function of the force depend on the population and funding available.
Do federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies ever work together?
-Yes, different levels of law enforcement frequently collaborate, especially in task forces designed to tackle specific types of crime. For example, local, state, and federal officers may work together in a joint task force to address issues like drug trafficking or terrorism.
Outlines
🚨 The Complexity of Police Agencies in the U.S.
The opening of the video introduces the complex structure of law enforcement in the U.S., highlighting that the term 'police' encompasses various levels of agencies, including federal, state, county, city, and town police. The script sets up a humorous scenario of being pulled over in the middle of filming to transition into a discussion about why there are so many different types of police departments. Examples of federal law enforcement agencies (like the FBI and DEA), state police, and local police departments are given, emphasizing that each level has different roles and jurisdictions.
🚔 Jurisdiction: Who Chases You Where?
This section uses an entertaining narrative of a bank robbery in Kentucky to explain how police jurisdiction works. The story highlights how town, city, county, state, and federal police have different levels of authority based on geographic boundaries, with each type of police stepping back once the suspect leaves their area. It introduces the concept of 'Fresh Pursuit,' where police can chase a suspect beyond their immediate jurisdiction, debunking the idea that police stop pursuing just because someone crosses a boundary. This leads to a broader explanation of how different types of police respond in cooperation during high-stakes scenarios.
👮♂️ The Role and Structure of Federal Police
This part focuses on federal law enforcement, explaining that these agencies, often referred to as 'agents' rather than 'police,' enforce federal law and are overseen by the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It notes that federal agencies, such as the FBI, DEA, and ATF, are the largest and best-funded in the U.S., and have specialized functions for handling various federal crimes. A specific example is provided regarding marijuana laws, demonstrating how federal and state laws can conflict, with federal agents still being able to arrest individuals even if a state legalizes a substance.
🚓 State Police: Enforcing State Laws
The focus shifts to state police, explaining that although their names vary (e.g., State Troopers, Highway Patrol), their functions are generally the same: enforcing the laws of their respective states. The script highlights that state police focus on patrolling highways and handling rural areas, often acting as the only police force in large, sparsely populated regions. It also traces the historical roots of state police back to the Texas Rangers, one of the first statewide law enforcement agencies in the U.S.
🏙️ Local Police: Counties, Cities, and Towns
This section breaks down local law enforcement, covering county sheriffs, city police (municipal police), and town police. It emphasizes that while local police have smaller jurisdictions, their size and strength can vary significantly, with large departments like the NYPD having tens of thousands of officers. It also notes that localities without their own police departments are often supported by state or county police. The script touches on the variety of local police agencies that weren't fully explored in the video, such as school and transit police.
🔄 Cooperation Across Levels of Law Enforcement
This paragraph highlights the collaborative nature of law enforcement in the U.S., noting that despite differences in jurisdiction, local, state, and federal police often work together on task forces and in high-stakes scenarios. Examples are given of how police forces from different areas and levels can coordinate to tackle crimes, but with the caveat that there are still degrees of separation; for example, county police generally don't patrol cities unless necessary.
📚 Different Training and Entry Standards
This part explains that different levels of law enforcement require varying levels of education and training. For example, federal agencies often require four-year degrees, while state and local agencies might only require a high school diploma or two-year degree. It also describes how training focuses on the specific needs of each agency, such as park police receiving geographical training. However, all law enforcement officers, no matter their level, are peace officers with the authority to enforce laws.
🔍 Variability Across Local Departments
The video script concludes by explaining that while federal agencies are more uniform in their operations, there is significant variability across local police departments in different states and cities. Each department has its own unique procedures and standards, and the more local you go, the more differences you’ll find. The video’s goal is to provide viewers with a basic understanding of how federal, state, and local law enforcement work.
🎧 Audible Sponsor and Final Message
The closing part promotes Audible as the sponsor of the video, recommending a specific book on the U.S. Marshals for those interested in learning more about law enforcement. The host encourages viewers to check out Audible and invites them to subscribe to the channel and support it via Patreon. The segment ends with a playful sign-off, thanking viewers and acknowledging YouTube members and Patreon supporters.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Federal Police
💡State Police
💡Local Police
💡Jurisdiction
💡Fresh Pursuit
💡DEA
💡ATF
💡SWAT
💡FBI
💡Task Force
Highlights
The video explains the complexity of law enforcement in the United States by breaking it down into federal, state, and local levels.
Federal law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI and DEA, are the largest and most funded entities, with a combined DOJ and DHS budget of $16.1 billion in 2022.
State police operate within their own states, enforcing state laws and assisting in areas without local police. Each state has its own specific state police or highway patrol, with the exception of Hawaii.
The video discusses 'Fresh Pursuit,' where police officers can chase a suspect beyond their jurisdiction if they witness a crime.
There are over 65 federal agencies, including 27 offices of Inspectors General, that employ personnel with full arrest authority.
The importance of jurisdiction is highlighted with an example of a bank robbery, where different levels of law enforcement get involved as a suspect crosses town, county, state, and federal lines.
Despite marijuana being legalized in some states, it remains illegal federally, which means federal agents can still make arrests in states where it is legal.
The Texas Rangers are credited as the first statewide police force in the U.S., and their model has influenced the structure of other state police forces.
Local police departments, such as the NYPD, LAPD, and Chicago PD, are some of the largest and most well-funded in the U.S., with the NYPD having over 35,000 officers.
County police are typically known as sheriff's departments, while city police are often referred to as municipal police.
There are gaps in law enforcement coverage in areas without local police departments, where state police or county police step in to fill the void.
Federal, state, and local police often collaborate on tasks like federal task forces, bringing together various jurisdictions to tackle large-scale crimes.
While there are differences in the jurisdictions and specialties of police at different levels, they all share a common goal: enforcing laws to maintain order.
Police training and entry requirements vary by department, with federal agencies typically having stricter education and training standards than state and local forces.
The video touches on specialized law enforcement units, such as SWAT teams, that exist at all levels, including federal, state, and local.
Transcripts
the way police works in the United
States wait what's that we're getting
pulled over in the middle of a video
you've got to be kidding me I can't
really see the car is it a State Trooper
maybe it's a county sheriff wait could
it be a federal agent I know we've made
some videos on the FBI wait I got it
that gives us an excellent idea why are
there so many different police
departments driver pull over now
everyone's familiar with the police no
matter where you are or where you've
been you've likely seen some sort of
police presence but police is a catchall
term here as there are various levels of
law enforcement throughout the United
States they can range from federal state
county City Town you name it but what's
the point why are there so many
different types of police what do they
do differently we're here to explain all
of that for you we'll be giving you a
breakdown of federal state and local
police we'll be grouping together County
city and Town Police as local police for
Simplicity sake if you have no clue what
any of these are let's give you some
examples for federal law enforcement
there's agencies like the FBI DEA US
Marshals border patrol Secret Service
and the ATF for State there's agencies
like the California Texas and Florida
Highway patrols New York State Police
Alaska State Troopers and the Kentucky
State Police you can find these in 49
states fun fact Hawaii is the only state
without a Statewide police force and
lastly for the local police some
examples are the nyp PD lap PD and
Chicago PD and then the Los Angeles
sheriff's Las Vegas Metropolitan and
Broward County police departments this
is barely scratching the surface there
are thousands and thousands more sorry M
cops you didn't make the cut this time
now that you're familiar with some of
these departments let's kick things off
with a fun example on how jurisdiction
works for you cops and lawyers out there
don't fret this is going to be a simple
explanation of jurisdiction you just
robbed a bank in the little town of
nowhere Kentucky and various types of
police are hot on your tail you must
have taken a lot of money you just made
it out of the town now the town cops
have to back off now you just pass
through nausea City and the city cops
have to back off then you make it out of
tonas County woo that was close the
County police back off now you got to
make it out of Kentucky which you
successfully do luck is definitely on
your side the Kentucky State Police back
off uh-oh now you have the feds on your
Trail because you cross state lines
you're going to have to make a break for
it to Canada or Mexico if you want a
shot at your freedom you're now on the
FBI's most wanted list congratulations
now while that was fun to show you it
doesn't work that simply this isn't
Grand Theft Auto where you can hide in a
bush and the cops forget about you 30
seconds later likely if you robbed the
bank an APB would be put out on your
location and the town or city county and
even State Police would get involved
almost immediately on top of that if you
cross state lines you've now involved
the federal government see how quickly
this can stack against you and it's not
like the police would just St stop
pursuing you because you went outside
their jurisdiction once an officer sees
you commit a violation within their
jurisdiction the jurisdiction becomes
irrelevant they can chase you as far as
necessary something called Fresh Pursuit
a local cop may be limited by his
Department's own policy on how far he
can chase you but for all intents and
purposes it doesn't matter don't think
that the town cops will see a sign for
the next town and just give up with that
out of the way before we can get into
their similarities and differences we
must start by explaining the main
purpose of each of these three levels of
law enforcement let's start off with the
big guns the federal
Police federal police are usually
referred to as agents not police the
feds enforce the federal law of the
United States the feds are overseen by
the Department of Justice or Department
of Homeland Security as you probably
figured federal law enforcement is the
biggest entity out of the three levels
we will be discussing federal law
enforcement comes in several different
forms with 65 federal agencies and 27
offices of Inspector General that employ
full-time Personnel authorized to make
arrests and carry firearms with a body
of that size they also get the most
funding the doj and dhs's budget
combined for fiscal year 2022 is around
$16.1 billion now compare that to the
largest state agency's budget the
California Highway Patrol which is
around 2.9 billion that's a huge
difference federal agencies enforce
federal law not state law an example of
this is with the legalization of
marijuana while it may be legal in
certain States a federal agent can still
arrest you for the possession of
marijuana because it is not legal under
federal law so you can be following the
law in your state but still be breaking
the law to the federal government of the
United States now on to State
[Music]
Police while we're using the term State
Police in reality only 23 States call
their departments by that name some
states use terms like Highway Patrol
State Highway Patrol States Patrol and
state troopers despite the different
names the functions of these agencies
are usually the same and to get things a
little more complicated for you Alaska
and Arkansas are the only states with
both a highway patrol and State Police
regardless of the title State Police all
have one thing in common they enforce
their respective States law the Vermont
police aren't interested in enforcing
the law over Nebraska and vice versa for
example you're not going to see a South
Carolina Highway Patrol officer
traveling to Colorado to arrest someone
for smoking marijuana in Colorado
despite that being in South Carolina
they simply don't have the jurisdiction
to enforce that State Police typically
deal with patrolling highways and
dealing with traffic however they
respond and deal with all sorts of
scenarios and crimes especially in rural
areas where there isn't much local
police patrolling this is especially the
case in Alaska where the Alaska State
Police can be the only police for
hundreds even thousands of square miles
Alaska doesn't have any counties it has
Burrows and to leave you with a fun fact
before we move on to local police State
Police can trace its rotes all the way
back to the Texas Rangers which were the
first Statewide police force in the
United States and now on to the local
police to Remind You by local we mean
County city or town County police are
typically referred to as Sheriff's
departments City police are typically
called Municipal Police and Town police
are the smallest of the bunch usually in
the suburbs of major cities or towns
that can afford to have its own Police
Department each of these departments
enforce the laws of the United States
their respective state laws and their
respective ordinances such as count
County city and town laws while we're
mentioning local police not every
locality has its own Police Department
there are entire counties and areas that
don't have their own police force if a
county doesn't have a police force the
state police steps in if a town doesn't
have a police force the county or State
Police can step in so wherever there are
gaps the state police and County police
if applicable fill those gaps just
because local police departments have a
smaller jurisdiction by no means
implicates its strength or size the NYPD
which can only enforce the laws within
New York City has a size of over 35,000
sworn officers that's bigger than
several Count's entire militaries it all
really depends on the size and budget of
the city town or County for example LAPD
has its own specialized squat team but
don't forget the city of La has a
population of nearly 4 million people
you're most likely not going to see a
town of 50 people having the same level
of SWAT team as the LAPD because one
there's no need and two there wouldn't
be enough funding from 5010 taxpayers to
have a SWAT team to that degree a small
rural town in the middle of nowhere that
has one police officer isn't going to
have that officer trained in every
aspect of SWAT narcotics detective work
explosives and forensics that cop will
fit the needs of their Community now
while we are only discussing County city
and Town Police there are in fact
several other forms of local police that
we won't get into for the sake of this
video such as school campus and Transit
Police but just know that they do exist
and no Mall Cops you still haven't made
to cut now that we've given you a
broad-strokes breakdown of federal state
and local police let's go over some of
their key similarities and
differences make no mistake while
there's several different levels of law
enforcement they all do the same thing
enforce the laws within the United
States to maintain Law and Order while a
town cop might not have the federal
jurisdiction that a federal agent has if
you break a federal law on their Town
more likely than not they can enforce it
however they'll be more concerned with
violations of state law federal law
enforcement agencies typically have
their own Specialties to tackle
different Realms of crime like the DEA
for drugs and ATF for guns whereas the
state police department will have
departments within that agency to combat
those sorts of crimes keep in mind that
there's an overlap the FBI makes arrest
for guns and other crimes outside of its
specialty just as much as the DEA can
make an arrest not having to do with
drugs all levels of law enforcement have
some sort of SWAT component whether
that's the hostage Rescue Team for the
FBI sort for the New York State Police
or your local sheriff us office SWAT
team there are specialty units designed
to respond to high-risk scenarios at
virtually every level of law enforcement
which brings us to our next Point
despite their differences there are
plenty of opportunities and instances
where all levels of police work together
you can find Town cops County cops and
state cops embedded in a federal task
force like the jtf for example it can go
further State cops from different states
may work together city cops from
different cities can work together and
the same goes with County cops and town
cops however the despite the
cohesiveness there are Degrees of
Separation yes County and city cops
might work together but you won't see a
County cop patrolling the city all
willy-nilly typically they will leave
enforcement in the city to the city cops
and only assist under certain
circumstances cops will typically Patrol
in their designated areas there's also
no common standard for entering law
enforcement across the board while each
department will have a set of minimum
requirements for what they teach in
theirm respective to their location some
departments might only require a high
school diploma whereas others might
require a 2-year college degree when you
start moving into the federal level they
start looking at four-year degrees for
entry there are also age restrictions
too and it gets much more detailed than
that in addition depending on your area
of focus the training you receive will
vary for example Parks police will
receive more training having to do with
the geographical challenges of parks
than a city cop will but both will be
trained to a standard for firearms
they'll all be peace officers capable of
enforcing the law just with different
expertise and Specialties while One
Police Academy may be 3 months long
another will be 6 months long at the end
of the day they're still training to do
what needs to be done in the world of
law enforcement to sum this up at the
federal level the standards of procedure
are more uniform and predictable
compared to State and local departments
you know what you're getting and what to
expect to a certain extent it gets a bit
tricky the more loal you get a County
Law Enforcement Agency in California
isn't going to be identical to one in
Massachusetts there are nuances across
every Police Department bottom line the
more local you look the more differences
you'll find mind there's no one siiz
fits-all the whole point of this video
was to give you a basic understanding of
how each of these three levels of law
enforcement work if you would like to
learn more about law enforcement such as
the oldest federal law enforcement
agency the US Marshals you should go
check out Mike her's captivating book on
the US Marshals he gives an exclusive
and fascinating behind the-scenes look
at the most storied law enforcement
agency in America and you can get this
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