House Judiciary Committee Holds Hearings On Overcriminalization In Federal Criminal Law
Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) is chairing hearings on federal criminal law overcriminalization. The Committee hearings are a recognition that the scope of federal criminal law has grown at an alarming rate over the last 50 years. According to the official press release from the House Committee on the Judiciary, the number of federal crimes has exploded in recent years, and now total approximately 4,500. The press release cited a study by the Federalist Society which showed that federal criminal law offenses grew by 30 percent between 1980 and 2004. During the period 2000 to 2007, Congress added 452 new federal criminal law offenses.
Federal criminal law charges bring the weight of the federal government to bear on those accused of a violation of a federal criminal statute. This means that the law enforcement agencies of the federal government, such as the F.B.I. and A.T.F. may use their vast resources to prosecute the case. William Bradford and Amber Ladner are seasoned federal criminal defense attorneys in Birmingham, Alabama. Both have handled numerous federal criminal cases as privately retained counsel and as part of their past tenure as members of the United States Northern District Criminal Justice Act Panel. They have seen firsthand the effects of Congress adding new federal criminal law statutes every year. They offer their experienced, compassionate and hands on attention to their client’s cases. Contact us today for a free consultation if you or a loved one is facing a federal criminal charge; we can help.
