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Deputy US Marshal

If you’re interested in a criminal justice career with one of the most established and respected law enforcement agencies in the country, look into becoming a deputy US marshal. The US Marshals Service is the oldest law enforcement agency in the United States. Deputies work underneath a region’s US marshal. To find out how you can become a deputy US marshal, contact the schools in your area (listed in our free directory) to learn more. Be sure to speak with multiple schools to be sure you choose the right program before you enroll.


Deputy US Marshal Job Description

A Deputy US Marshal is responsible for a range of law enforcement and security duties. The US Marshals Service notes that deputies’ duties fall into seven main areas: witness security, judicial security, fugitive investigations, transporting prisoners, prisoner services, asset forfeiture, and special missions. Deputy US marshals may protect judges and juries at federal courtrooms. They may also need to transport prisoners to federal prisons. Since so much of the job is security and protection, you must be completely comfortable with and skilled at using firearms. You may apprehend suspects or those who are a threat to your safety, so physical fitness is a big part of this job.

How to Become a Deputy US Marshal

To become a deputy US marshal, a college degree and experience in the field of law enforcement is recommended. You should also anticipate a demanding physical fitness test, so you may wish to start preparing by getting into shape. Furthermore, you should prepare for an intensive background check and medical examination.

Education Requirements

The US Marshals Service maintains a list of hiring requirements for deputy US marshals. You may wish to qualify via education or experience. To qualify at GS-07 level with your education, you must have a bachelor’s degree in any field. However, you must also demonstrate exemplary academic performance. They may look for a GPA of 3.0 or higher, a rank in the top third of your college, or membership in a national scholastic honor society. In addition, you must have one year of graduate school in a field related to the job. Possible fields of study include sociology, criminal justice, and law.

Work Experience

If you do not meet the educational requirements, you may still qualify for a deputy US marshal job with your previous work experience. Work experience in law enforcement or in the military may help you here; you need at least one year of experience in carrying out investigation, making arrests, using firearms, serving court orders, or other law enforcement duties. You can use a combination of experience and education to meet the US Marshal Service requirements.

Training Requirements

Upon getting hired, you need to attend the training program. It occurs at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia. You spend 17 1/2 weeks in training. Your education may focus on court security, defensive tactics, physical conditioning, firearms training, search and seizure, and protective service training. You may also learn about building entry and search, high treat trials, surveillance, and officer survival.

You must prove yourself in multiple ways to make it through the training program. Through the duration of the program, you’ll take seven exams. You must pass with a score of at least 70% on each exam. Furthermore, there are many practical exercises that you have to participate in. You get a pass/fail score on each practical exam.

Deputy US Marshal Salary and Career Outlook

The career outlook for a deputy US marshal varies from year to year, depending on the government’s budget for the US Marshals Service and the needs of each US marshal. You may get hired in any one of 49 US marshal regions. If you know that you want to become a deputy US marshal and you want to improve your own job outlook, there are a few things you can do. First, ensure that you earn a bachelor’s degree in a field related to the job. While you can technically qualify for the job with any bachelor’s degree, a degree in law enforcement, criminal justice, or law may give you an advantage over other applicants. You may wish to complete internships or practicum experiences that are relevant to the Deputy U.S. Marshal job.

Compensation for a US marshal falls under the general ledger (GL) pay schedule. US marshals enter the field at the FL-07 rate, usually at step 8, so new US marshals can expect to earn about $48,999 per year. However, you receive locality pay on top of this pay.

Contact the schools below to find out how you can map a path to success in the field of criminal justice. Be sure to compare multiple programs before you enroll. Each program is different, and career placement services can vary from program to program. Good luck in your search for the right criminal justice education!