Fugitive Safe Surrender Law and Legal Definition
Fugitive Safe Surrender is an initiative managed by the U.S. Marshals Service to encourage persons wanted for non-violent felony or misdemeanor crimes to voluntarily surrender to the law in a faith-based or other neutral setting. It is a unique, creative, and highly successful community re-entry program for wanted non-violent offenders. This program was authorized by Congress in 2006.
The goal of Fugitive Safe Surrender is to reduce the risk to law enforcement officers who pursue fugitives, to the neighborhoods in which they hide, and to the fugitives themselves. By surrendering under this program, offenders can get their cases adjudicated in a safe and non-violent environment.
The following is a federal statute on fugitive safe surrender.
42 USCS § 16989. Fugitive Safe Surrender
(a) Findings. Congress finds the following:
(1) Fugitive Safe Surrender is a program of the United States Marshals Service, in partnership with public, private, and faith-based organizations, which temporarily transforms a church into a courthouse, so fugitives can turn themselves in, in an atmosphere where they feel more comfortable to do so, and have nonviolent cases adjudicated immediately.
(2) In the 4-day pilot program in Cleveland, Ohio, over 800 fugitives turned themselves in. By contrast, a successful Fugitive Task Force sweep, conducted for 3 days after Fugitive Safe Surrender, resulted in the arrest of 65 individuals.
(3) Fugitive Safe Surrender is safer for defendants, law enforcement, and innocent bystanders than needing to conduct a sweep.
(4) Based upon the success of the pilot program, Fugitive Safe Surrender should be expanded to other cities throughout the United States.
(b) Establishment. The United States Marshals Service shall establish, direct, and coordinate a program (to be known as the "Fugitive Safe Surrender Program"), under which the United States Marshals Service shall apprehend Federal, State, and local fugitives in a safe, secure, and peaceful manner to be coordinated with law enforcement and community leaders in designated cities throughout the United States.
(c) Authorization of appropriations. There are authorized to be appropriated to the United States Marshals Service to carry out this section--
(1) $ 3,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
(2) $ 5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
(3) $ 8,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
(d) Other existing applicable law. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit any existing authority under any other provision of Federal or State law for law enforcement agencies to locate or apprehend fugitives through task forces or any other means.
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