U.S. Marshals in the district of Rhode Island operate out of the city of Providence and include the counties of Bristol, Kent, Newport, Providence, and Washington.
Fugitive investigations are a major career focus for U.S. Marshals in Rhode Island. U.S. Marshals coordinate with the Rhode Island State Police through the Rhode Island Violent Fugitive Task Force in order to locate and apprehend Rhode Island’s most violent criminals.
As the law enforcement division of the federal courts, U.S. Marshals are involved in almost every federal law enforcement effort across the country. The diverse duties U.S. Marshals can expect to assume include:
- Prisoner services including the transportation of prisoners
- Fugitive investigations
- Judicial security
- Witness protection
- Asset forfeiture
- Special missions
Becoming a U.S. Marshal in Rhode Island
Candidates for US Marshals jobs in Rhode Island must have at least a bachelor’s degree, OR one year of specialized law enforcement experience, OR a combination of education and experience that qualifies as GL-07 Level.
Candidates interested in becoming members of the U.S. Marshals Service must also meet several basic qualifications:
- Individuals must be U.S. Citizens
- Individuals must be between the ages of 21 and 36 at the time of application and must be appointed before their 37th birthday
- Individuals must possess a valid driver’s license
- Individuals must undergo a background investigation
- Individuals must go through a structured interview and pass multiple assessments
- Individuals must meet minimum medical qualifications
U.S. Marshals are often hired through recruitment areas in individual districts. Individuals interested in pursuing U.S. Marshal jobs in the district of Rhode Island should contact the Rhode Island district office and ask to speak with the District Recruiting Officer.
Candidates selected for the U.S. Marshals Service can expect to attend a basic training program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, GA. This intensive program, which lasts 17 ½ weeks, pushes candidates physically and mentally to prepare them for the wide array of duties associated with service in the U.S. Marshals service. Candidates must also pass a series of exams in order to graduate.
Notable U.S. Marshal Operations in Rhode Island
U.S. Marshals have had several notable cases in the district of Rhode Island:
- July 2013: A Rhode Island fugitive wanted for murder in Providence is captured. In Alabama through a coordinated effort between Rhode Island U.S. Marshals and the Gulf Coast Regional U.S. Marshals Task Force.
- July 2013: U.S. Marshals Special Sex Offender Task Force, along with the Providence Police Department, capture a man wanted for failure to register as a sex offender.
- November 2012: U.S. Marshals successfully capture a fugitive who spent four months on Rhode Island’s MOST WANTED list after a coordinated effort with local law enforcement agencies in Virginia, where the suspect had fled.