Legal Definitions - United States Marshals Service

The United States Marshals Service is the oldest federal law enforcement agency in the United States, operating under the U.S. Department of Justice. Its primary mission is to protect the federal judiciary, ensure the efficient operation of federal courts, and enforce federal laws. This includes a wide range of duties such as apprehending federal fugitives, providing security for federal judges, jurors, and court facilities, transporting federal prisoners, and managing assets seized during federal investigations.

• Example 1: Securing a High-Profile Federal Trial

  During a complex federal trial involving a national security threat, the courthouse receives numerous threats. The United States Marshals Service would be responsible for implementing stringent security measures, including screening all visitors, providing personal protection for the federal judge and jury members, and maintaining order within the courtroom and surrounding facilities to ensure the trial can proceed safely and without disruption.

• Example 2: Apprehending a Federal Fugitive

  A person indicted for large-scale federal bank fraud fails to appear for their court date and disappears. The United States Marshals Service would then launch a nationwide manhunt, utilizing their extensive network and investigative resources to track down and arrest this federal fugitive, bringing them back into federal custody to face the charges.

• Example 3: Transporting Federal Inmates

  A federal inmate serving time in a correctional facility in California needs to be transported to a federal court in New York for an appeal hearing. The United States Marshals Service would meticulously plan and execute the secure transportation of this inmate across state lines, ensuring their safe arrival at the courthouse and subsequent return to the correctional facility, thereby facilitating the judicial process.