U.S. Marshal Service

The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) is the nation’s oldest and most versatile federal law enforcement agency. Federal Marshals have served the country since 1789, often times in unseen but critical ways. To this day, the Marshals occupy a uniquely central position in the federal justice system. The USMS is the enforcement arm of the federal courts, and as such, it is involved in virtually every federal law enforcement initiative. Presidentially appointed U.S. Marshals direct the activities of 94 districts — one for each federal judicial district. More than 3,843 Deputy Marshals and Criminal Investigators form the backbone of the agency. Among their many duties, they apprehend more than half of all federal fugitives, protect the federal judiciary, operate the Witness Security Program, transport federal prisoners, conduct body searches, enforce court orders and Attorney General orders involving civil disturbances and acts of terrorism, execute civil and criminal processes, and seize property acquired by criminals through illegal activities.

Judicial Security

Protecting federal judicial officials — judges, attorneys and jurors is a core mission for the U.S. Marshals. Deputy Marshals employ the latest security techniques and devices during highly sensitive trials throughout the nation.

Experienced former law enforcement officers, having served in various capacities and specialties throughout their careers, comprise the agency’s Court Security Officer (CSO) program. These contracted CSOs receive limited deputations as special Deputy Marshals and play a vital role in courthouse security. Using security-screening systems, CSOs detect and intercept weapons and other prohibited items that individuals attempt to bring into federal courthouses. Senior Inspectors, Deputy Marshals and CSOs provide security at facilities that house court operations. The agency also oversees each aspect of courthouse construction projects, from design through completion, to ensure the safety of federal judges, court personnel and the public.

Transporting Prisoners

In 1995, the U.S. Marshals and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement merged air fleets to create the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System — JPATS. The merger created an efficient and effective system for transporting prisoners and criminal aliens.

Managed by the U.S. Marshals, JPATS is one of the largest transporters of prisoners in the world, handling more than 1,070 requests every day to move prisoners between judicial districts, correctional institutions and foreign countries. JPATS completes more than 275,400 prisoner and alien movements annually via coordinated air and ground systems.  

Fugitive Operations

The U.S. Marshals is the federal government’s primary agency for conducting fugitive investigations. The Marshals apprehend more federal fugitives than all other law enforcement agencies combined. In fiscal year 2014, the U.S. Marshals arrested more than 33,700 federal fugitive felons, clearing 36,800 federal felony warrants – more than all other law enforcement agencies combined.

Working with authorities at the federal, state, and local levels, U.S. Marshals-led fugitive task forces arrested more than 71,000 state and local fugitives, clearing 89,131 state and local felony warrants. The Marshals currently leads 60 district fugitive task forces and 7 regional fugitive task forces dedicated to locating and apprehending wanted criminals. The USMS has developed close working relationships with other law enforcement agencies on fugitive matters, and provides assistance, expertise and training to agencies on the federal, state, local and international levels.

Prisoner Operations

The Marshals Service houses over 55,000 detainees in federal, state, local and private jails throughout the nation. In order to house these pre-sentenced prisoners, the Marshals Service contracts with approximately 1,800 state and local governments to rent jail space. Seventy-five percent of the prisoners in Marshals Service custody are detained in state, local and private facilities; the remainder are housed in Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities. 

Tactical Operations

Each year the USMS carries out hundreds of special missions related to its broad law enforcement authority and judicial security responsibilities. It also responds to homeland security crises and national emergencies.

The USMS Special Operations Group is a specially trained, tactical unit comprised of Deputy Marshals, who can respond immediately to incidents anywhere in the United States or its territories.

Asset Forfeiture

The USMS is responsible for managing and disposing of seized and forfeited properties acquired by criminals through illegal activities. Under the auspices of the DOJ’s Asset Forfeiture Program, the Marshals currently manage nearly $2.2 billion worth of property, and promptly disposes of assets forfeited by all Department of Justice agencies. The Program’s goal is to maximize the net return from forfeited property and then reinvest the proceeds for law enforcement purposes. 

Witness Security

The U.S. Marshals ensures the safety of witnesses, who risk their lives testifying for the government in cases involving organized crime and other significant criminal activities. Since 1971, the Marshals have protected, relocated and given new identities to more than 8,500 witnesses and more than 9,900 of their family members.

The successful operation of the Witness Security Program has been recognized as providing a unique and valuable tool in the government’s battle against major criminal enterprises and international terrorism. Witness Security Program personnel are the world’s leading authorities and foremost experts on witness security matters, providing guidance and training to numerous government officials throughout the world.

Qualifications to become a U.S. Deputy Marshal

  Must be a U.S. citizen
Must be between the ages of 21 and 36 (must be appointed before 37th birthday)
Must have a bachelor’s degree, 1 year of specialized experience, or a combination of education and experience equivalent to the GL-07 level
Must have a valid driver’s license in good standing
Must successfully complete a structured interview and other assessments
Must successfully complete a background investigation
Must meet medical qualifications
Must be in excellent physical condition
Must undergo a rigorous 21 ½ week basic training program at the United States Marshals Service Training Academy in Glynco, GA

• Applicants below the age of 21 years will not be considered for the Deputy U.S. Marshal position.
• Individuals beyond 36 years of age may receive an age waiver* if:
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• They are current federal law enforcement employees (indicated by SF-50)
• They are veterans preference eligible candidates (refer to VetGuide for preference criteria)

*All documentation for age waiver requests must be submitted with the candidate’s application for employment.

• Tact and ability to meet the and deal with a wide variety of persons in all walks of life;
• Ability in oral expression;
• Ability to make decisions and act quickly under stress;
• Problem-solving ability; and
• Ability to prepare clear and concise reports.

OR

Possess a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor’s degree.

OR

Possess a combination of education and experience which when combined totals 100% of the necessary education and experience to qualify for this position. To combine your education and experience, you must convert each to qualify for this position. To combine your education and experience, you must convert each to a percentage, and then add the percentages. Only education beyond the first year of a bachelor degree program can be combined with experience (MUST submit copies of transcripts). 

GL- 07 Specialized Experience, Education, or Superior Academic Achievement

Experience:

Specialized Experience to include:

• One year specialized experience equivalent to the GL-05 or GS-05 grade level that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled.
• Dealing tactfully with associates, subordinates, the public, and prisoners;
• Planning and carrying out criminal investigations such as making arrests, serving court orders, using firearms, and dealing with uncooperative people;
• Utilizing knowledge of the law and court precedents as the relate to search and seizure matters;
• Preparing reports on actions taken during the execution of civil and criminal processes and
• Executing warrants by locating wanted persons through conventional sources.

Education

One full year of graduate level study related to a field in law enforcement or other related fields such as Criminal Justice, Sociology, etc. that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work

Superior Academic Achievement

A bachelor's degree and one of the following Superior Academic Achievement provisions:
 

• A grade point average (GPA) of “B” (3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all completed undergraduate courses, or for those courses completed during the last 2 years of undergraduate study.
• A grade point average of “B+” (a GPA of 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all courses in your major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study.

NOTE: Grade point averages are to be rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9.

• Rank in the upper one-third of your class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.

Membership in a national scholastic honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies.