FEDERAL LAWS REGARDING HOSTAGE-TAKING
Although the policy of the federal government
is that most hostage-taking offenses within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States should be handled by state and
local authorities, there are situations in which the federal government may be involved in prosecuting such offenses. These
situations include the taking of a federal official or an international guest as a hostage, a demand against the United States
regarding the hostage-taking, or when international terrorists are the perpetrators.
IDENTITY THEFT
A person commits the offense of identity theft
when he or she wrongfully obtains and uses another person's personal data in a way that involves fraud or deception. A person
usually obtains the other person's personal data for economic gain.
CONFESSIONS and MIRANDA WARNINGS
The Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution
requires that no person shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself. The self-incrimination privilege
of the Fifth Amendment means that a person cannot be compelled to give a testimonial communication to a police officer.
RESISTING
ARREST
A person commits the offense of resisting arrest
when he or she intentionally prevents or obstructs a peace officer from effecting an arrest, a search, or a transportation
of him or her or another person by using force against the peace officer.
INSURANCE FRAUD and FEDERAL
PROSECUTIONS
Although there is no specific federal statute
prohibiting insurance fraud because there is a nexus with interstate commerce, federal prosecution for fraudulent conduct
may be sought under a variety of different statutes.
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