DEP CTLR MADE HANDOFF TO ARTCC ON TWO ACFT WITH LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION; CONFLICT ALERT ACTIVATED.

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I WAS FLYING THE LEG. TKOF ADN INITIAL CLIMB WERE ROUTINE. I WAS HAND FLYING WITH THE FD OFF. WE HAD BEEN GIVEN TFC 11 O'CLOCK 4 MILES AND HAD HIM IN SIGHT SAME DIRECTION AND ALSO CLIMBING. TUS DEP CTLR WAS STEP CLIMBING US TO MAINTAIN SEPARATION AS WE GAINED ON THE TFC. WE WERE LEVEL AT 14000' ASSIGNED STILL ON THE INITIAL DEP VECTOR OF ABOUT 290 DEG (?) WHEN THE CTLR GAVE US A RIGHT TURN TO 305 DEG (?) AND A CLIMB TO 17000'. HE THEN HANDED US OFF TO ABQ CENTER (125.4). WHEN THE CAPT CAME ON THE NEW FREQ; THE CTLR IMMEDIATELY TOLD US TO MAINTAIN 14000. THE CAPT ACKNOWLEDGED THE CLRNC AND STATED THAT WOULD REQUIRE A DESCENT. WE WERE CLIMBING OUT OF 14500'. I STOPPED THE CLIMB AND RETURNED TO 14000'. THE CAPT ASKED IF WE 'HAD RUNG ANY BELLS'; AND AFTER SOME TIME WAS TOLD THAT WE HAD. CENTER EXPLAINED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE HANDOFF; THE DEP CTLR HAD HIS REQUIRED SEPARATION OF 3 MILES; BUT THAT CENTER NEEDED 5. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A MISCOM BETWEEN THE TWO FACILITIES AND THAT WE HAD BEEN ACCEPTED BY CENTER WITH ONLY 3 MILES. THIS HAD 'RUNG THE BELLS'. WHILE WE FEEL WE WERE THE VICTIMS OF THIS INCIDENT; WE THOUGHT IT PRUDENT IN THE CURRENT PUNITIVE ENVIRONMENT TO SUBMIT ASRS REPORTS 'JUST IN CASE' SOMEONE TRIES TO TURN THIS THING AROUND ON US.