10 Questions
What are the three categories of perpetrators mentioned in the text?
Domestic terrorists, foreign-connected terrorists, and unprivileged enemy belligerents
What are the two other reasons for pursuing prosecution mentioned in the text?
As part of a disruption strategy and as an Al Capone strategy
In early 2018, who was charged with terrorist-related crimes directed toward a railroad carrier?
Taylor Michael Wilson, a white supremacist
What is the Al Capone strategy referred to in the text?
Prosecuting for a lesser crime in the face of an inability to prosecute for a much more serious crime
What is the main focus of the chapter mentioned in the text?
The prosecutorial effort, specifically the trial
Which type of crimes may be classified as federal terrorist crimes?
Crimes calculated to influence or affect the conduct of government by intimidation or coercion
What happens to any individual or organization engaged in planning or perpetrating any federal crime of terrorism?
Forfeiture of assets may happen
Which type of crimes are considered capital offenses under federal statutes?
Murder directed at specific kinds of people and in specific locations
What is the legal pressure on witnesses mentioned in the text?
Not to violate the federal statute criminalizing the failure to report a crime
Which federal agency's designation of an investigation involving domestic terrorism can expand the investigation?
FBI
Study Notes
Terrorism and Federal Crimes: A General Overview
- The chapter does not address topics such as prosecution, deportation, indictment, pretrial detainment, plea bargaining, sentencing details, and conditions of imprisonment.
- Military detainment interrogation, forced feeding, and prosecution by a military commission will be discussed in later chapters.
- Various criminal statutes are relevant to the prosecution of terrorists, some mentioning "terrorism" and some not.
- Ordinary murder is considered a state crime, but federal statutes touch on murder directed at specific kinds of people and in specific locations, making these crimes capital offenses.
- Other statutes address destruction of aircraft and other property, using weapons of mass destruction, and destruction of infrastructure.
- Ordinary crimes that may be committed as part of a terrorist agenda include robbing a bank, drug dealing, illegal transportation of explosives, and firearms offenses.
- Domestic hate groups, anarchists, special interest extremists, or revolutionaries may be prosecuted for crimes listed above, in addition to hate crimes.
- Several laws aim to thwart terrorism by regulating the sale and purchase of ammonium nitrate and bribery to commit terrorism related to port security.
- Suspects can be charged with aiding and abetting, conspiracy, and providing false information, and witnesses are under legal pressure not to violate the federal statute criminalizing the failure to report a crime.
- Crimes may be classified as federal terrorist crimes if they are calculated to influence or affect the conduct of government by intimidation or coercion.
- The sentence on conviction may be enhanced if the crime was committed with the intent to intimidate or coerce the government, and another statute deals with crimes of terrorism that transcend national boundaries.
- The FBI's designation of an investigation involving domestic terrorism can expand the investigation, and forfeiture of assets may happen to any individual or organization engaged in planning or perpetrating any federal crime of terrorism.
Test your knowledge of terrorism and federal crimes with this quiz covering various criminal statutes relevant to the prosecution of terrorists, including topics such as murder, destruction of property, hate crimes, and regulations on the sale and purchase of certain materials. See how much you know about aiding and abetting, conspiracy, and providing false information, as well as the FBI's involvement in domestic terrorism investigations.
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