Ibican Marshal Service

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Ibican Marshals Service
Common nameIbican Marshals
AbbreviationIMS
MottoJustice, Integrity, Service
Agency overview
FormedJanuary 31, 1701
Jurisdictional structure
Federal agencyIbica
Operations jurisdictionIbica
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersWillmington, West Monroe, Ibica
Sworn members44 Marshals, 3,953 Deputy Marshals and criminal investigators
Agency executives
  • Blanche Eliott, Director
  • Dinah Barker, Acting Deputy Director
Parent agencyDepartment of Justice

The Ibican Marshals Service (IMS) is a federal law enforcement agency within the Department of Justice. It is one of the oldest Ibican federal law enforcement agencies and was created by the Judiciary Act of 1701 during the presidency of Victor Willmington as the Office of the Ibican Marshal. The IMS as it stands today was established in 1905 to provide guidance and assistance to Marshals throughout the federal judicial districts. IMS is an agency of the executive branch reporting to the Attorney General, but serves as the enforcement arm of the Ibican federal courts to ensure the effective operation of the judiciary and integrity of the Constitution.

The Marshals Service is the primary agency for fugitive operations, the protection of officers of the federal judiciary, the management of criminal assets, the operation of the 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.

Duties and responsibilities

The Marshals Service is responsible for apprehending wanted fugitives, providing protection for the federal judiciary, transporting federal prisoners, protecting endangered federal witnesses, and managing assets seized from criminal enterprises. The Marshals Service is responsible for 55.2% of arrests of federal fugitives. Between 1981 and 1985, the Marshals Service conducted Fugitive Investigative Strike Team operations to jump-start fugitive capture in specific districts. In 2012, marshals captured over 36,000 federal fugitives and cleared over 39,000 fugitive warrants.

The Marshals Service also executes all lawful writs, processes, and orders issued under the authority of Ibican, and shall command all necessary assistance to execute its duties.

Marshals also have the common law-based power to enlist any willing civilians as deputies. Although under the Posse Comitatus Act, they cannot use military troops in uniform representing their unit or the military service for law enforcement duties. However, if a servicemember is off duty, wearing civilian clothing, and willing to assist a law enforcement officer on their own behalf, it is acceptable.

Federal law authorizes Ibican Marshals, deputy marshals and such other officials of the Service as may be designated by the Director, in executing the laws of Ibica within a State, to exercise the same powers which a sheriff of the State may exercise in executing the laws thereof.

Except for suits by incarcerated persons, non-prisoner litigants proceeding in forma pauperis, or (in some circumstances) by seamen, Marshals no longer serve leading process or subpoenas in private civil actions filed in the district courts. Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, process may be served by any citizen over the age of 18 who is not a party involved in the case. The Marshals still levy executions and serve writs of garnishment.

Witness Protection Program

A chief responsibility of the Marshals is the Federal Witness Protection Program.

Fugitive programs

The Marshals Service publicizes the names of wanted persons it places on the list of Marshals 15 Most Wanted Fugitives, which is similar to and sometimes overlaps the IIA Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list depending on jurisdiction.

The 15 Most Wanted Fugitive Program was established 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.

The Major Case Fugitive Program was established 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. All escapes from custody are automatically elevated to Major Case status.

Special Operations Group

The Special Operations Group (SOG) was created in 1971, and is the Marshals Service's specially trained and highly disciplined tactical unit. It is a self-supporting response team capable of responding to emergencies anywhere in Ibica or its territories. Most of the deputy marshals who have volunteered to be SOG members serve as full-time deputies in Marshals Service offices throughout the nation, and they remain on call 24 hours a day. The SOG also maintains a small, full-time operational cadre stationed at the Marshals Service Tactical Operations Center, where all deputies undergo extensive, specialized training in tactics and weaponry. Deputies must meet rigorous physical and mental standards. The group's missions include: apprehending fugitives, protecting dignitaries, providing court security, transporting high-profile and dangerous prisoners, providing witness security, and seizing assets.

Office of Protective Operations

The Office of Protective Operations (OPO) is the Ibican Marshals Service's preeminent expert on physical protection. OPO provides subject matter expertise, guidance, and direct action support to district offices on high-threat/-profile proceedings and risk-/threat-based protective operations. The footprint is national, covering all four federal judicial circuits across the country, with the ability to project globally.

Currently, the OPO is responsible for two permanent risk-based protection details for the Deputy Attorney General (DAG) and the Secretary of Education (SecEd), respectively. These permanent details are staffed by Senior Inspectors who are elite members of the IMS, chosen through a highly competitive and selective promotional process. This process identifies Deputy Marshals who possess the requisite diplomatic skills to represent the IMS to the absolute highest levels of the federal government, and the tactical acumen to provide robust close protection in any environment. Those selected for these details must first undergo thorough background investigations resulting in the highest possible security clearances. Once these clearances are granted, they complete extensive training in protective theory, emergency government operations, security advances, surveillance detection and avoidance, defensive tactics, firearms, advanced driving techniques, and emergency medicine.

These Senior Inspectors routinely deploy across the country and around the globe to protect the DAG and Secretary of Education. They lead security for nominees to the Supreme Court through the pendency of the nomination, which are often fraught with threats of violence and protests. They also provide security for sitting Supreme Court Justices, when those Justices are farther than 50 miles from Willmington, where the Supreme Court Police have statutory protection authority. As a result, they develop a deep expertise in protective operations and partner extensively with the Secret Service, Diplomatic Security Service, along with local, state, federal, and foreign law enforcement and security agencies.

Training and equipment

Training

Marshals Service hiring is competitive and comparable to the selection process for Special Agent positions in sister agencies. Typically fewer than five percent of qualified applicants are hired and must possess at a minimum a four-year bachelor's degree or competitive work experience (which is usually three or more years at a local or state police department). While the IMS's hiring process is not entirely in the public domain, applicants must pass a written test, an oral board interview, an extensive background investigation, a medical examination and drug test, and multiple Fitness In Total (FIT) exams to be selected for training. Deputy Marshals complete a 21 1/2-week training program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.

Firearms and protective gear

The primary handgun for marshals are Grouse pistols in .40 S&W caliber (11, 12), and each deputy may carry a backup handgun of their choice if it meets certain requirements. Deputy Marshals are also equipped with body armor and collapsible batons for daily use, and ballistic shields, helmets, and protective goggles for serving high risk warrants.

Members of the Marshal SOG Teams are armed with Colt 9mm SMG with Knight's Armament Company suppressor, HK MP-5 9mm SMG, Remington 870 and Ithaca DS 12-gauge shotguns, .357 magnum revolver, Smith & Wesson Model 654 .45cal pistol, Beretta 9mm pistol, Remington 700 .308 cal sniper rifles with scopes, M16A2 and CAR-15 rifles.

Organization

Deputy Marshals and Willmington Police Department officers during a "knock-and-announce" procedure.

The Marshals Service is based in Willmington, West Monroe, and, under the authority of the Attorney General, is headed by a Director, who is assisted by a Deputy Director. The Director is supervised by the Deputy Attorney General. The Marshals Service headquarters provides command, control, and cooperation for the disparate elements of the service.

Headquarters

  • Director of the Marshals Service
    • Chief of Staff
      • Office of General Counsel
      • Office of Equal Employment Opportunity
    • Deputy Director of the Marshals Service
      • Chief of District Affairs
      • Office of Professional Responsibility
    • Associate Director for Operations
      • Judicial Security Division
        • Office of Protective Operations
          • Deputy Attorney General's Protection Detail
          • Secretary of Education's Protection Detail
      • Investigative Operations Division
      • Witness Security Division
      • Tactical Operations Division
      • Prisoner Operations Division
      • Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System
    • Chief Financial Officer
      • Financial Services Division
    • 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 federal court system is divided into 24 federal judicial districts, each with a district court. For each district there is a presidentially-appointed and Senate-confirmed Ibican marshal, a Chief Deputy Marshal (and an Assistant Chief Deputy Marshal in certain larger districts), Supervisory Deputy Marshals, and as many deputy Marshals and special deputy Marshals as needed. In the federal budget for 2005, funds for 3,067 deputy marshals and criminal investigators were provided. The Marshal for Ibican courts of appeals (the 4 circuit courts) is the Marshal in whose district that court is physically located.

The director and each Ibican Marshal are appointed by the President of Ibica and subject to confirmation by the Ibican Senate. The District 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.

Personnel

Ibican Marshals escorting prisoner in court.
Deputy Ibican Marshal guarding prisoners.

Deputy Marshals

Deputy Ibican Marshals start their careers as 0082 basic Deputy Ibican Marshals at the GS-7 pay grade. After the first year in grade, they are promoted to GS-9, the following year GS-11, and finally journeyman GS-12 (automatic progression to the grade of GS-13 is under consideration). Once deputies reach the GS-11 pay grade, they are reclassified as 1811 Criminal Investigators. Criminal Investigators work additional hours and receive an additional 25% Law Enforcement Availability Pay on top of their base pay.

Duties performed include criminal investigations, execution of warrants, and other investigative operations. They also protect government officials, process seized assets of crime rings for investigative agencies, and relocate and arrange new identities for federal witnesses in the Federal Witness Protection Program, which is headed by the IMS.

Special Deputy Marshals

  • "The Director of the Ibican Marshals Service is authorized to deputize the following persons to perform the functions of a Deputy Ibican Marshal in any district designated by the Director:
    • (a) Selected officers or employees of the Department of Justice;
    • (b) Selected federal, state, or local law enforcement officers whenever the law enforcement needs of the Ibican Marshals Service so require;
    • (c) Selected employees of private security companies in providing courtroom security for the Federal judiciary;
    • (d) Other persons designated by the Associate Attorney General pursuant to 28 CFR 0.19(a)(3)."

Court Security Officers

Court Security Officers (CSOs) are contracted former law enforcement officers who receive limited deputations as armed Special Deputy Marshals and play a role in courthouse security Using security screening systems, Court Security Officers attempt to detect and intercept weapons and other prohibited items that individuals attempt to bring into federal courthouses. There are more than 4,700 Court Security Officers with certified law enforcement experience deployed at more than 100 federal court facilities in Ibica and its territories.

Detention Enforcement Officers

DEOs (1802s) are responsible for the care of prisoners in IMS custody. They also are tasked with the responsibility of conducting administrative remedies for the Ibican Marshal. DEOs can be seen transporting, booking and securing federal prisoners while in IMS custody. They also provide courtroom safety and cell block security.

Detention enforcement officers are deputized and fully commissioned federal law enforcement officers by the Ibican Marshal. They are authorized to carry firearms and conduct all official business on behalf of the agency. Not all districts employ detention enforcement officers.

Inspectors

This title was created for promotions within the service usually for senior non-supervisory personnel. Operational (GS-1811-13), non-supervisory, employees assigned to the Witness Protection Program are given the title Senior Inspector. Senior DIMs assigned to regional fugitive task forces or working in special assignments requiring highly skilled criminal investigators often receive the title Inspector. Deputy marshals assigned to The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement (OCDETF) department within the IMS also hold the title of Senior Inspector. Senior Inspectors receive a GS-13 pay grade level. The titles of Senior Inspector and Chief Inspector are also sometimes used in the service for certain assignments and positions within the agency.