United States Marshals Service

USMS seal

USMS flag

Deputy US Marshal badge

The **United States Marshals Service** (USMS) is a federal law enforcement agency in the United States. The USMS is a bureau within the U.S. Department of Justice, operating under the direction of the Attorney General, but serves as the enforcement arm of the United States federal courts to ensure the effective operation of the judiciary and integrity of the Constitution. It is the oldest U.S. federal law enforcement agency, created by the Judiciary Act of 1789 during the presidency of George Washington as the "Office of the United States Marshal". The USMS as it stands today was established in 1969 to provide guidance and assistance to U.S. Marshals throughout the federal judicial districts.

The Marshals Service is primarily responsible for the protection of judges and other judicial personnel, the administration of fugitive operations, the management of criminal assets, the operation of the United States Federal Witness Protection Program and the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System, the execution of federal arrest warrants, and the protection of senior government officials through the Office of Protective Operations. Throughout its history the Marshals have also provided unique security and enforcement services including protecting African-American students enrolling in the South during the civil rights movement, escort security for United States Air Force LGM-30 Minuteman missile convoys, law enforcement for the United States Antarctic Program, and protection of the Strategic National Stockpile.

## Structure

### Director of the U.S. Marshals Service

* Chief of Staff
* Office of General Counsel
* Office of Equal Employment Opportunity

### Deputy Director of the U.S. Marshals Service

* Office of District Affairs
* Office of Professional Responsibility

### Associate Director for Operations

* Judicial Security Division
* Investigative Operations Division
* Witness Security Division
* Tactical Operations Division
* Prisoner Operations Division
* Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System

### Associate Director for Administration

* Training Division
* Human Resources Division
* Information Technology Division
* Office of Public and Congressional Affairs
* Management Support Division
* Asset Forfeiture Division

### Federal Judicial Districts

The U.S. court system is divided into 94 federal judicial districts, each with a district court (except the territory of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, which share a U.S. Marshal). For each district there is a presidentially-appointed and Senate-confirmed United States marshal, a Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal (GS-14 or 15) (and an Assistant Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal in certain larger districts), Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshals (GS-13), and as many deputy U.S. Marshals (GS-7 and above), and special deputy U.S. Marshals as needed. In the United States federal budget for 2005, funds for 3,067 deputy marshals and criminal investigators were provided. The U.S. Marshal for each United States courts of appeals (the 13 circuit courts) is the U.S. Marshal in whose district that court is physically located.

The director and each United States Marshal are appointed by the President of the United States and subject to confirmation by the United States Senate. The District U.S. Marshal is traditionally appointed from a list of qualified law enforcement personnel for that district or state. Each state has at least one district, while several larger states have three or more.

## Rank Structure

### Agency Executives

* Director
* Deputy Director
* Associate Director

### Marshals

* United States Marshal
* Chief Deputy United States Marshal
* Supervisory Deputy United States Marshal
* Deputy United States Marshal

## Issued Weapons

* Glock 22, 23, 27
* Colt 9mm SMG (Colt Model 635)
* Remington M870

## See Also

* Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force
* Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force
* Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force