U.S. Marshals Service, Fugitive Investigations, Index

Fugitive Investigations


15 Most Wanted	Major Cases	Task Forces	International Investigations

In fiscal year 2011, the Marshals apprehended more than 36,200 federal fugitives, clearing approximately 39,400 felony warrants.

Working with authorities at the federal, state, and local levels, U.S. Marshals-led fugitive task forces arrested more than 86,400 state and local fugitives, clearing 113,000 state and local felony warrants.

15 Most Wanted	The USMS established the 15 Most Wanted Fugitive Program in 1983 in an effort to prioritize the investigation and apprehension of high-profile offenders who are considered to be some of the country’s most dangerous fugitives. These offenders tend to be career criminals with histories of violence or whose instant offense(s) pose a significant threat to public safety. Current and past fugitives in this program include murderers, sex offenders, major drug kingpins, organized crime figures, and individuals wanted for high-profile financial crimes.
Major Cases	The USMS established its Major Case Fugitive Program in 1985 in an effort to supplement the successful 15 Most Wanted Fugitive Program. Much like the 15 Most Wanted Fugitive Program, the Major Case Fugitive Program prioritizes the investigation and apprehension of high-profile offenders who are considered to be some of the country’s most dangerous individuals. These offenders tend to be career criminals with histories of violence or whose instant offense(s) pose a significant threat to public safety. Current and past fugitives in this program include murderers, sex offenders, major drug kingpins, organized crime figures, and individuals wanted for high-profile financial crimes. All escapes from custody are automatically elevated to Major Case status.
Fugitive Task Forces	The USMS has a long history of providing assistance and expertise to other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in support of their fugitive investigations. The USMS is the lead agency for 91 interagency fugitive task forces located throughout the United States, including six congressionally funded regional fugitive task forces. These task forces, staffed by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, target the most dangerous fugitives.
International Investigations	The U.S. Marshals Service has been designated by the Department of Justice as the primary agency to apprehend fugitives who are wanted by foreign nations and believed to be in the United States. Also, the Marshals Service is the primary agency responsible for tracking and extraditing fugitives who are apprehended in foreign countries and wanted for prosecution in the United States. The U.S. Marshals Service, which has statutory responsibility for all international, federal and state extraditions, sees to it that there is no safe haven for criminals who flee the territorial boundaries of the United States.
Sex Offender Investigations Branch G8 Most Wanted Sex Offenders	The Sex Offender Investigations Branch (SOIB) was created following the passage of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act (AWA), which became law on July 27, 2006. The SOIB carries out the USMS’s three principal responsibilities under the AWA: assist state, local, tribal and territorial authorities in the location and apprehension of non-compliant and fugitive sex offenders; investigate violations of the act for federal prosecution; and assist in the identification and location of sex offenders relocated as a result of a major disaster. To ensure the safety of communities and children across the country, the USMS has implemented an aggressive enforcement strategy for its responsibilities under the AWA.
Gang Enforcement	The USMS Gang Enforcement model is a robust, focused, and cost effective multi-level approach that targets violent fugitives with gang affiliations as the centerpiece of its methodology. The USMS Gang Enforcement model utilizes the extremely effective USMS fugitive task force network to coordinate the efforts and the expertise of various federal, state, and local agencies to execute its initiatives. This approach allows Gang Enforcement to remove violent gang members, weapons, and drugs, from our communities in an effective, focused, and cost efficient manner. The USMS also is a key member of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhood’s Anti-Gang Training Program, National Gang Targeting, Enforcement, and Coordination Center, and the National Gang Intelligence Center.
Technical Operations	Deploying the most sophisticated technologies available, the Technical Operations Group provides investigative and intelligence support for the U.S. Marshals and U.S. Marshals-led fugitive task forces. Technical Operations also provides assistance when requested by other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to solve complex criminal investigations or crimes of violence.
Criminal Information Branch	The Criminal Information Branch provides investigative research and analysis in support of various Marshals Service operations and provides oversight of special law enforcement information systems used by the Marshals Service and management of data sharing projects with other agencies.
Financial Surveillance Unit	The Financial Surveillance Unit (FSU) utilizes legal process and various sources to track a fugitive’s financial activities in “real time” by analyzing debit cards, credit cards, fund transfers, and a host of other credit and banking transactions and information. Since its inception, FSU has been a tremendously successful tool used in fugitive investigations.
Fugitive Safe Surrender	Fugitive Safe Surrender is a unique, creative, and highly successful, initiative that encourages persons wanted for non-violent felony or misdemeanor crimes to voluntarily surrender to the law in a faith-based or other neutral setting. Managed by the United States Marshals Service as a community re-entry program for wanted non-violent offenders, Fugitive Safe Surrender offers individuals with felony and misdemeanor warrants the ability to turn themselves in to law enforcement and have their cases adjudicated in a safe and non-violent environment.

Investigations

USMS Participates in Operation Triple Beam Dubbed Operation Triple Beam, the two-week enforcement initiative employed a systematic and sustained approach specifically focused to reduce violent gang crime. Members of the N/OK VCTF worked closely with the Tulsa Police Department Gang Unit to identify the most violent areas of the city and target the most violent gang members responsible for the majority of crime.

The Marshals Service is the federal government's lead agency for conducting investigations involving: escaped federal prisoners; probation, parole and bond default violators; and fugitives based on warrants generated during drug investigations.

The U.S. Marshals have the authority to make an arrest on all federal warrants.