A crime is a state offense if it violates the Texas Penal Code , which has been enacted by elected state representatives. The crime is investigated either by the elected Sheriff or a local police department, the latter which is under the supervision of the elected city council and mayor. If an arrest can be made, the case is referred to an elected district or county attorney for prosecution in a court which is presided over by an elected district or county judge. The suspect can then only be convicted if he voluntarily pleads guilty or is found guilty either by the elected judge or a jury of composed of citizens who live in the county where the offense took place. If the defendant wishes to appeal his conviction, he does so to a State Appellate Court of elected judges, and the even higher to the elected members of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals .
Federal prosecutions are much different.
Washington D.C. The arrest for the federal crime will be made, typically, by those employed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation , the Drug Enforcement Agency, or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms . The director of each of those agencies is appointed by the President of the United States instead of via an election process. Once convicted, his appeal is heard by judges who have been appointed to sit on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals based in New Orleans, and then higher to the appointed members of the United States Supreme Court . In my opinion, local control of law enforcement is very important. Since those in charge in the enforcement of our State laws are primarily elected at every step, they are more likely to be responsive to public concerns.