Title 34NavyRelease 119-73

§20989 Fugitive Safe Surrender

Title 34 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Protection of Children and Other Persons › Chapter CHAPTER 209— - CHILD PROTECTION AND SAFETY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - GRANTS AND OTHER PROVISIONS › § 20989

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Creates the Fugitive Safe Surrender Program run by the U.S. Marshals Service. The Marshals must set up and run the program so people wanted by federal, state, or local authorities can turn themselves in safely. It works with law enforcement, community leaders, and local groups and can use churches as temporary surrender sites. A Cleveland pilot had over 800 people surrender in four days, versus 65 arrests in a later three-day sweep. Money provided: $3,000,000 (FY2007), $5,000,000 (FY2008), $8,000,000 (FY2009). It does not limit other ways to find or arrest fugitives.

Full Legal Text

Title 34, §20989

Navy — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)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)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)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)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.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 16989 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

34 U.S.C. § 20989

Title 34Navy

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73