---
kind: "section"
citation: "34 U.S.C. § 20989"
title: "34"
title_heading: "Crime Control and Law Enforcement"
number: "20989"
heading: "Fugitive Safe Surrender"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/34/20989"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Protection of Children and Other Persons"
  - "Chapter 209 — Child Protection and Safety"
  - "Subchapter III — Grants and Other Provisions"
---

# §20989. Fugitive Safe Surrender

- (a) **Findings—** 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](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1), 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) **Establishment—** 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](/usc/34/21701.md?p=3), and local fugitives in a safe, secure, and peaceful manner to be coordinated with [law enforcement](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1) and community leaders in designated cities throughout the United States.
- (c) **Authorization of appropriations—** 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) **Other existing applicable law—** Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit any existing authority under any other provision of Federal or [State](/usc/34/21701.md?p=3) law for [law enforcement](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1) agencies to locate or apprehend fugitives through task forces or any other means.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–248, title VI, § 632, July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 641.)

## Notes

### 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.