[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1816]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE FUGITIVE SAFE SURRENDER PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MARCIA L. FUDGE

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 2010

  Ms. FUDGE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to share the recent success of 
the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Safe Surrender Program in 
my home of Northeast Ohio. From September 22 through 25, 2010, 7,431 
fugitives surrendered and took advantage of the Fugitive Safe Surrender 
program held at Mt. Zion Church in Oakwood Village, Ohio. This set a 
new national record for fugitive surrenders in the program. Nearly 500 
wanted felons, including individuals wanted on federal and out-of-state 
warrants all peacefully surrendered during the four-day program, 
representing over 12,000 outstanding warrants.
  Law enforcement, judiciary at the municipal, state and federal level, 
Pastor Larry L. Macon Sr. of Mt. Zion, and over 40 partnering 
organizations joined together to offer those with outstanding warrants 
the ability to peacefully surrender within the safe environment of Mt. 
Zion Church. This program could not have succeeded without their 
extraordinary commitment of time and resources.
  As you know, Fugitive Safe Surrender is administered by the Marshals 
Service in states with a particularly high volume of fugitive warrants, 
such as Ohio. The goal of Fugitive Safe Surrender is to reduce risks to 
police officers in pursuit of fugitives, neighborhoods where felons 
often hide, and possible injury to the fugitives themselves. Authorized 
by Congress in July 2006 and signed into law in 2007, it is believed to 
be the first program of its kind in the Nation. I am very proud that 
this program was created in 2005 by my friend, U.S. Marshal Peter 
Elliott in the Northern District of Ohio.
  After Cleveland Police Officer Wayne Leon was shot and killed by a 
wanted fugitive, Marshal Elliott recognized the need for more safety in 
capturing felons and those persons wanted on outstanding warrants. 
Marshal Elliott found this creative approach to reduce violence between 
fugitives and law enforcement. The first year Marshal Elliott launched 
the program in Cleveland, 850 fugitives peacefully surrendered.
  Building on this innovative program, Marshal Elliot later helped lead 
the program in 10 cities and was urged by mayors nationwide to 
implement the program in their communities. Since then, 30,000 wanted 
individuals have surrendered through the program in 18 cities across 
our nation in the past five years.
  Fugitive Safe Surrender is a success. In addition to violent 
fugitives, thousands of individuals wanted for non-violent felony or 
misdemeanor crimes have also felt comfortable in voluntarily 
surrendering in faith-based or other neutral settings established by 
the program.

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