The U.S. Marshals Service in Alabama is organized in the same manner as the Federal District Court System; therefore, U.S. marshals in Alabama may find career opportunities in the Northern District, the Middle District or the Southern District of Alabama:
Northern District – The Northern District of Alabama includes the state’s northern counties, which include the cities of Birmingham, Huntsville, Anniston, Decatur, Gadsden, Jasper, and Tuscaloosa. U.S. Marshals in Alabama’s Northern District may also work in the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force.
In April 2010, the U.S. Marshals of Alabama’s Northern District worked with a number of other law enforcement partners to arrest 139 people in Operation Clean State, a cooperative effort that is designed to check on the registered sex offenders throughout Jefferson County. Through compliance checks of 550 sex offenders in the area, it was found that 139 people were non-compliant and were therefore arrested for violations of either sex offender registration laws or outstanding felony or misdemeanor warrants.
Middle District – The Middle District of Alabama for the U.S. Marshals Service includes the counties in the central part of the state, which includes the cities of Montgomery, Dothan, and Opelika.
In March 2009, following an intense investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service of the Middle District of Alabama arrested a Kansas individual on seven counts of failure to register as a sex offender. In the same month, U.S. marshals arrested two brothers and a cousin suspected in the shooting death of two individuals.
Southern District – The U.S. Marshals Service, Southern District of Alabama, includes the southern counties in the state, which includes the cities of Mobile and Selma. U.S. marshals in the Southern District are involved in the following, multi-agency task forces:
- DEA Task Force
- High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force
- Joint Terrorism Task Force
- Safe Streets Task Force
- Project Safe Neighborhoods (Alabama ICE)
How to Become a US Marshal in Alabama
Individuals who want to become a U.S. marshal in Alabama must be able to meet the minimum requirements for employment:
- Be a United States citizen
- Be between the ages of 21 and 36
- Possess a valid driver’s license
Further, individuals chosen as candidates for U.S. marshal jobs in Alabama must be able to successfully complete a background investigation and a structured interview.
Education/Experience Requirements – To qualify at the GL-7 level (the minimum requirements for U.S. marshal jobs), individuals must possess one of the following:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with superior academic achievement, defined as having a 3.0 GPA in all undergraduate courses and a 3.5 GPA in all courses in the major field of study within the last two years; OR
- A full year of graduate-level study related to a law enforcement field or other related program, such as criminal justice and sociology; OR
- One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GL-5 level, which includes experience in such areas as: dealing with the public prisoners; utilizing knowledge of law and court precedents related to search and seizure; preparing reports regarding civil and criminal processes; and executing warrants for wanted persons; OR
- A combination of education and experience
Training Requirements for U.S. Marshal Jobs in Alabama
All new U.S. marshals must attend the 17 ½ week United States Marshals Service Training Academy, which takes place at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia. Some of the topics of instruction within the U.S. marshal training program include:
- Legal training
- Firearms training
- Driver training
- Physical conditioning
- First aid
- Court security
- Computer training
The training program includes a total of 7 exams, and all individuals must pass the exams with a minimum score of at least 70 percent.