The United States Marshals Service (USMS) recently made headlines in November 2013 when they nabbed a murder suspect who was found to be illegally residing in Utah. After more than a decade on the run, U.S. marshals, along with officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), arrested the fugitive on warrants issued by the courts in Mexico City. He is a suspect in the 2002 disappearance of his wife.
Locating, apprehending, and extraditing criminals and assisting local and state law enforcement agencies in the capture of fugitives of dangerous or violent crimes has become a major mission of the USMS in Utah. Many times, this work is carried out through USMS-led task forces and programs, such as the Joint Criminal Apprehension Team (JCAT) and the Northern Joint Criminal Apprehension Team, both of which are focused on multiagency efforts to bring the region’s most dangerous criminals to justice.
The USMS in Utah is based on the organizational structure of the federal district court system; therefore, Utah has one judicial district, although it is organized into two divisions:
The Northern Division consists of the state’s northern counties, which include the large cities of Salt Lake City and Ogden, while the Central Division consists of the remaining counties, as well as the major cities of Provo and St. George.
U.S. Marshal Career Opportunities in Utah: The Assessment Process
Individuals who want to learn how to become U.S. marshals in Utah should familiarize themselves with the assessment process, which can be broken down as follows:
1. Meet the Minimum Requirements for Employment
The first step to becoming a U.S. marshal in Utah is meeting the minimum requirements for employment, which include:
- Being a United States citizen
- Being between the ages of 21 and 36
- Possessing a valid driver’s license
- Meeting the requirements of the GL-7 federal level, which include:
- Possessing, at a minimum, a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a history of superior academic achievement or at least one year of specialized law enforcement/criminal investigative experience equivalent to the GL-5 level
2. Apply for Employment and Complete the Pre-Employment Process
Individuals who want to become U.S. marshals in Utah must apply through online through www.USAjobs.gov during an open recruitment period. Candidates who meet the minimum requirements for employment are then required to:
- Take the a two-part competitive exam
- Successfully complete a physical fitness assessment
- Successfully complete a structured panel interview
- Successfully pass a background investigation
3. Complete Basic Training
All new hires with the USMS must complete a 17 ½ week basic training academy, which is held at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia.
Basic training includes rigorous physical conditioning and tactical defense training, as well as study in a number of areas, including:
- Legal training
- Courtroom training
- Driver training
- Courtroom evidence and procedure
- Firearms training
- Prisoner search and restraint
- Building entry and search