[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 158 (Tuesday, September 30, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2169]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        FUGITIVE SAFE SURRENDER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 29, 2008

  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to applaud the efforts of 
the United States Marshals Service for its pioneering program to 
encourage hundreds and thousands of individuals wanted for non-violent 
felony or misdemeanor crimes to voluntarily surrender to the law in a 
faith-based or other neutral setting. The initiative was conceived and 
is administered by the Marshals Service in states that have 
particularly high numbers of fugitive warrants.
  The goal of Fugitive Safe Surrender is to reduce the risk to law 
enforcement officers who pursue fugitives, to the neighborhoods and 
communities where they hide, and to the fugitives themselves. 
Authorized by Congress in July 2006, it is believed to be the first 
program of its kind in the Nation.
  In Detroit, Michigan, where the majority of my constituents reside, 
Fugitive Safe Surrender took place in June 2008, under the leadership 
of Robert M. Grubbs, United States Marshal for the Eastern District of 
Michigan. Over the course of the four-day surrender period, more than 
6,500 individuals with outstanding warrants took advantage of the 
opportunity to surrender to law enforcement and help pave the way for a 
more successful future for themselves and their families. The credit 
for this outstanding success goes to the many city workers, judges, 
prosecutors, attorneys, clerks, and community leaders who contributed 
their time, efforts and leadership to administering the program. I am 
proud to salute the leadership of Dr. Edgar Vann, pastor of Second 
Ebeneezer Church, who allowed the Marshals Service to use his beautiful 
facility and who devoted countless hours to mentoring government 
officials and fugitives during the process.
  This brilliant initiative was conceived by Peter J. Elliott, United 
States Marshal for the Northern District of Ohio, after the death of 
Cleveland Police Officer Wayne Leon at the hands of a wanted fugitive. 
He believes that ``desperate people commit desperate acts.'' Marshal 
Elliot has helped lead the program in ten cities and has been urged by 
mayors from across the country to implement the program in their 
cities. As the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, I applaud 
Marshal Elliot for his courage to `think outside the box,' and his 
leadership in pairing law enforcement with communities in an amazingly 
successful effort to apprehend fugitives while giving thousands of 
individuals a second chance at life.

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