The U.S. Marshals Service is the nation’s first and most versatile federal law enforcement agency.

Federal marshals have served the country since 1789, often in unseen but critical ways.

The Marshals Service occupies a uniquely central position in the federal justice system. It is the enforcement arm of the federal courts, involved in virtually every federal law enforcement initiative.

Presidentially appointed, U.S. marshals direct the activities of 94 districts — one for each federal judicial district.

The photos on this site are primarily shot by the USMS Operational Photographers Shane T. McCoy, Bennie J. Davis III and Public Affairs Specialist David Oney, and have been publicly released by The U.S. Marshals Service.

More than 3,950 deputy U.S. marshals and criminal investigators form the backbone of the agency. Among their many duties, they:

- Protect the federal judiciary

- Apprehend federal fugitives

- Seize, manage and sell property acquired by criminals through illegal activities

- House and transport federal prisoners

- Operate the Witness Security Program

The agency’s headquarters is just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.