U.S. Marshals' Organization

Courtesy of the U.S. Government John F. Clark, director of the U.S. Marshal Service.

The U.S. Marshals Service is part of the Department of Justice, headed by a director appointed by the president. As of May 2007, former marshal John F. Clark was the director. The service is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

Marshals work in one of 94 districts throughout the country - each district coincides with a federal judicial district, so that each federal court has its own marshal. The U.S. Marshal for a given district is in charge of that district. The other officers that work in the district are deputy marshals and criminal investigators.

The U.S. Marshals Service shouldn’t be confused with other kinds of marshals. Marshal is a common title with a variety of uses. Some nations use it as a military rank. State and local courthouses have their own marshals, a title that basically means 'judicial security guard.' Air Marshals are specially trained officers who travel on certain airline flights, remaining undercover unless they are needed to quell a disturbance of some kind on the plane.

Becoming a U.S. Marshal Those who aspire to become a U.S. Marshal must: Be a U.S. citizen. Be between the ages of 21 and 36. Be in good physical condition. Have a bachelor's degree, three years' experience in law enforcement, or other qualifying job experience. Have a valid driver's license and a good driving record.

Formerly, applicants were required to take a special exam. Today, the Marshals Service uses the Federal Career Intern Program to find new hires. This is a two-year training and development program that can culminate in official hiring into the service if the candidate’s performance was adequate. Prospective marshals must complete 17 and a half weeks of training at the U.S. Marshals Service Training Academy in Glynco, Georgia. Anyone interested in becoming a U.S. Marshal can find contact information for their local recruiter here: USMarshals.gov

Notable Marshals
Since the service’s inception, more than 200 marshals and deputies have died in the line of duty [Source: U.S. Marshals]. The first was Robert Forsyth, shot and killed by two brothers when he tried to serve court papers in 1794.

Public Domain Wyatt Earp

Public Domain Wild Bill Hickok

The legendary Wyatt Earp was a U.S. Marshal, as was Wild Bill Hickok. Abolitionist and freed slave Frederick Douglass was the U.S. Marshal for Washington, D.C. Marshals have appeared prominently in many works of fiction, including hundreds of westerns. Tommy Lee Jones played one of the more well-known fictional marshals in the movie "The Fugitive," while the film "Con Air" gave audiences a look at a prisoner transport operation gone awry.

Most WantedThe U.S. Marshals keep a 15 Most Wanted list of federal fugitives. Wanted posters for these fugitives are displayed at post offices nationwide. The marshals’ most wanted list differs from the FBI’s more famous most wanted list, and usually there are no common suspects between the two lists. Each agency simply uses different criteria to determine which fugitives are most wanted at any given time.

For more information on U.S. Marshals, law enforcement and related topics, check out the links on the next page.