Freedom of Information/Privacy Act     

  Last Updated:  April 30, 2009   

FOIA Contact:

FOIA E-Mail

FOIA/PA Officer
Office of General Counsel
Department of Justice
U.S. Marshals Service
Washington, DC 20530-1000
(202) 307-9054

Upon request, the agency's electronic Reading Room may be accessed through a computer located at USMS headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. Please call (202) 307-9054 to make arrangements.

Electronic Reading Room

This includes frequently requested records, opinions, policy statements, and staff manuals/instructions to staff, created by the United States Marshals Service after Nov. 1, 1996. 

Component Description

United States Marshals serve as law enforcement agents of the Government and, in that capacity, also serve as officers of the Federal courts. The Service maintains files on individuals for whom Federal warrants have been issued; records on prisoners in the custody of the United States Marshals; background information and records related to threats to and the protection of Government witnesses, U.S. Attorneys and their assistants, Federal jurists and other court officials; records on process served and executed in Federal court proceedings; and records on seized and forfeited property and evidence. It also maintains various records pertaining to the administration of the Service, including official personnel files for its employees.

DOJ Reference Guide

A comprehensive guide to the FOIA that serves as a handbook for obtaining information from the Department.

See also the Department of Justice Freedom of Information Act / Public Affairs web site.  

Information on Federal Prisoners

For additional information regarding the coordination of federal detention programs and activities for the Department of Justice, go to the Office of the Federal Detention Trustee website.

The Federal  Detention Trustee website has statistical information regarding the housing of USMS prisoners in contract jails as well as funding information.

Historical Documents

For over 200 years now, U.S. Marshals and their Deputies have served as the instruments of civil authority used by all three branches of government. Marshals have been involved in most of the major historical episodes in America's past.  Requests for historical documents associated with major events in the U.S. Marshals service should be directed to the Freedom of Information Officer. 

For Historical Records Assistance involving genealogical research, contact the Historian of the U.S. Marshals Service.  Each year, the Marshals Service receives 500-700 requests per year for historical or genealogical information. While we have approximately 30,000 names and references to personnel, there are names being constantly added to our official tally. This is due to the scattered source material available to document the enormous number of Posse Members, Guards, and Deputy U.S. Marshals over a 215-year period.  
 

Special information required to make a FOIA request

For individuals: Judicial district.
For prisoner transportation: Date and trip number.
For seized property: Judicial district, civil action number and/or description of the property.

Publicly available information for which a FOIA request is not required

Recruitment and employment literature; fact sheets; information regarding forfeiture program and sales of forfeited property. Such information is available on the U.S. Marshals Service website.

Multitrack processing

FOIA requests are placed in one of three major tracks. Track one is for those requests which seek and receive expedited processing pursuant to subsection (a)(6)(E) of the FOIA. The second track is for those requests which do not involve voluminous records or lengthy consultations with other entities. Track three is for those requests which involve voluminous records and for which lengthy or numerous consultations are required, or those requests which may involve sensitive records.

Major Information Systems