Created in 1789, the U.S. Marshals Service is America's oldest federal law enforcement agency. The service began as a team of 13 handpicked officer charged with maintaining the security of federal courts. Today there are more than 90 U.S. Marshals and over 3,000 deputy U.S. Marshals or criminal investigators responsible for the protection of federal courts and judges, housing of federal detainees prior to trial, investigation and pursuit of federal fugitives, and administration of the Witness Security Program, among many other duties. U.S. Marshals traces the history of this pioneering national police force, examining its purpose, duties, and tactics in detail.
