NCJ Number
172993
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 65 Issue: 3 Dated: March 1998 Pages: 20-25
Date Published
1998
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes the structure and operations of the U.S. Department of Justice's Fugitive Unit under the Office of International Affairs (OIA).
Abstract
OIA plays a major role in coordinating international law enforcement matters. The Fugitive Unit's primary goal is to expedite the apprehension and surrender of selected major offenders, including "career fugitives" who have managed to remain at large internationally despite extensive law enforcement efforts. The Fugitive Unit has organized an international fugitive coordinators' group among the Federal law enforcement agencies for ongoing contact and cooperation, along with the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security and Interpol. In addition, the unit maintains contact with State and local authorities through the National Association of State Extradition Officials. The Fugitive Unit's task is twofold: to identify fugitives appropriate for monitoring and to collect sufficient information to form the basis of either a provisional arrest request with a view to extradition or an expulsion request for submission to the proper authorities once a targeted fugitive is found. The unit has welcomed offers of publicity as a means of increasing its likelihood of success in locating significant offenders. This includes support for such media programs as "America's Most Wanted" and the Voice of America's "International Crime Alert." Examples of the effectiveness of the unit's efforts are provided.