LETTER TO WILLIAM J. CASEY FROM STANLEY E. MORRIS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP89B00297R000400740002-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 16, 2012
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: June 18, 1986
• Content Type: LETTER

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U .S. Department of Justice
United States Marshals Service
One Tysons Corner Center
McLean, Virginia 22102
Executive Re istr
86.2619x
Mr. William J. Casey
Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D.C. 20505
LUUU J
0S FF
18 AIN 1986
Dear Mr. Casey:
Although certain fundamental responsibilities of the United
States Marshals Service have remained unchanged for much of its
history, we have, from time to time, been assigned new missions
or have experienced significant changes in older ones.
It is, therefore, helpful to us to periodically contact
those federal civilian and military agencies with which we work
closely, to explain these missions, and to request their cooper-
ation in providing certain information which we require to perform
those responsibilities.
A primary mission of the Marshals Service is to ensure the
integrity of the federal judicial system by protecting all
participants, most notably federal judges. Threats against
judges and other court officials, especially U.S. Attorneys
and Assistants, have been rising significantly for the past
several years. In response to this, our Judicial Security
Program has become far more sophisticated, employing the latest
techniques in electronic and physical security, and protective
services training for those assigned to protective details.
Judicial Security has been the primary beneficiary of our
threat assessment program which was initiated two and a-half
years ago.
The responsibilities of investigating threats for the
purpose of prosecution, and of providing protection from these
threats, are divided between the Federal Bureau of Investigation
and the Marshals Servrice, respectively. For this reason, our
two agencies have the policy of cross-notification and close
and continuing cooperation in such matters. Thus, a judicial
threat may be reported to either agency, with the exception
of those which involve imminent danger, where it is critical
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that physical protection from an assault be provided immediately.
In such cases, the U.S. Marshal's office should be notified
without delay so that the appropriate security measures may be
initiated. All matters relative to federal judicial security
operations are handled by the Court Security Division. (A list
of contact points relating to each of the program areas discussed
in this letter is enclosed.)
Another major responsibility of the Marshals Service is
the operation of the Government's Witness Security Program,
including the protection, redocumentation, funding and relocation
of witnesses under threat from organized criminal elements.
The Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984 extended the range
of offenses warranting participation in the Program, from those
typically associated with more traditional organized crime to
include those committed by terrorists and highly-organized
criminal motorcycle gangs. All matters relating to protected
witnesses are handled by the Witness Security Division.
Since 1979, the Marshals Service has had investigative
authority in fugitive matters, domestic and foreign, involving
escaped federal prisoners, and probation, parole, and (with some
exceptions) bond violators. Our Fugitive Investigative Strike
Team (FIST) operations, which target habitual and dangerous
criminals, have proven highly successful. Begun five years ago,
strictly as a USMS activity, they are now a federal-state-local
(and at times, international) cooperative effort, as approximately
ninety-five percent of arrests made are non-federal. The U.S.
Marshals Service is also responsible for the extradition of
federal fugitives back to the United States. USMS representatives
are assigned to each of the organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task
Forces, to the El Paso Intelligence Center, the National Narcotics
Border Interdiction System (El Paso office) and Interpol's
National Central Bureau in Washington and General Secretariat
in St. Cloud, France. All fugitive matters are handled by the
Enforcement Division.
One of our most recently assigned missions is the management
and disposal of assets seized from, or forfeited by, criminals.
Last year, the Service handled over $300 million worth of
property as our seized property caseload increased by forty
percent. As is the case with any new program of such magnitude,
there are important policy and procedural issues to be addressed.
We have found that one of the most important factors affecting
the success of asset seizures/forfeiture actions is advance
notification from case agencies. This allows us to formulate
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plans as to what assets should be targeted, and may even lead
to the identification of new assets not previously known by the
case agents. The result is a more effective punitive action
against the perpetrators and a better net return to the Government.
All matters pertaining to the National Asset Seizure and For-
feiture (NASAF) program are handled by the Seized Asset Manage-
ment Branch, Operations Support Division.
As you know, one of the most effective tools in combatting
sophisticated criminal organizations is the developing and
sharing of intelligence pertaining to their activities. One of
the steps taken by the Marshals Service to counteract an increas-
ingly hostile environment has been the establishment of the
Threat Analysis Group, which is responsible for supporting all
USMS operations by providing intelligence and assessments
relative to threats against our protectees and our personnel.
Last fall, we established the position of Threat Coordinator
in each of our district offices, centralizing certain duties relative
to our ability to be prepared for, and to counter, serious
threats. It is the responsibility of the Threat Coordinator to
be knowledgeable of all threat situations in his/her district,
usually with respect to the major threat sources (violence-prone
groups, criminal gangs, etc.) and to provide timely and accurate
information to district management and to Headquarters concerning
known or suspected threats to USMS protectees or personnel.
Specific duties of the Coordinators, who are cleared at the
Secret level, include maintaining official contacts with federal,
state and local law enforcement agencies for the purpose of
sharing such threat intelligence. Matters relative to the
Threat Coordinator program are handled by the Threat Analysis
Group.
The capability to systematically collect, analyze, and
disseminate threat-related and other important information on a
timely basis is a valuable and much-needed asset, one which
will benefit those agencies with which we work closely, in
addition to benefitting our own. We are committed to sharing
the benefits of intelligence with every law enforcement agency
which requires it, in accordance with governing laws and regulations.
Much of the information the Marshals Service requires in
order to provide appropriate security in a given threat situation
comes from the investigating agencies. This information is
invaluable from the standpoint of conducting threat assessments
and planning tactical countermeasures. We are requesting your
continued cooperation in providing any information relative to
known or suspected threats against our protectees or personnel;
information of any planned or actual disruptions of the judicial
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process, including demonstrations at federal court facilities;
or information of importance to the law enforcement community
in general, such as threats to law enforcement officers as a
group, or the use of new or unusual weaponry.
USMS personnel at Headquarters (and in district offices)
may be reached at anytime through our Headquarters Communications
Center which operates twenty-four hours a day. We have also
established a crisis center at Headquarters and have equipped it
to facilitate responses to emergency operations and those of
unusual magnitude.
Should members of your staff wish to discuss or report a
matter which is not within the purview of an existing contact
at USMS Headquarters, they should feel free to call upon the
Threat Analysis Group which will assist them or provide direction
to the point where such help can be obtained.
As always, your cooperation and assistance are very much
appreciated.
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