16 Questions
What is one of the reasons prosecution may be pursued?
To prevent the defendant from engaging in a more serious crime in the future
Who may be the perpetrators of the discussed crimes?
Domestic terrorists, foreign-connected terrorists, and unprivileged enemy belligerents
What is the Al Capone strategy in prosecution?
Prosecuting for a lesser crime in the face of an inability to prosecute for a much more serious crime
Who was charged with terrorist-related crimes directed toward a railroad carrier in early 2018?
Taylor Michael Wilson, a white supremacist
Which type of crimes are considered federal terrorist crimes?
Crimes calculated to influence or affect the conduct of government by intimidation or coercion
What is the consequence of committing ordinary murder directed at specific kinds of people and in specific locations?
The crime becomes a capital offense under federal statutes
Which crime may be classified as a federal terrorist crime?
Using weapons of mass destruction
What is the aim of several laws regulating the sale and purchase of ammonium nitrate?
Thwarting terrorism
What are suspects charged with if they are involved in aiding and abetting, conspiracy, and providing false information?
Federal crimes of terrorism
What happens to assets of individuals or organizations engaged in planning or perpetrating any federal crime of terrorism?
Forfeiture of assets may happen
What is the consequence of ordinary murder under federal statutes?
Becomes a capital offense
Which crimes are considered federal terrorist crimes if they transcend national boundaries?
Crimes of terrorism that transcend national boundaries
What are suspects charged with if they violate the federal statute criminalizing the failure to report a crime?
Failure to report a crime
What can the FBI's designation of an investigation involving domestic terrorism lead to?
Expansion of the investigation
What are suspects charged with if they are involved in crimes aimed at influencing or affecting the conduct of government by intimidation or coercion?
Federal terrorist crimes
What is the consequence of committing crimes with the intent to intimidate or coerce the government?
Enhancement of the sentence on conviction
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.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
