MovieChat Forums > Chase (2010) Discussion > US marshals job?

US marshals job?

posted 14 years ago by viper852681
15 replies | jump to latest

Is it me, or does anyone else realize that the job being performed on the show does not represent what the US Marshals actually do? Their jobs are to protect judges and witnesses, transport and hunt down fujitives. That is it. They do not investigate murders, kidnappings, etc. That is the job of the police or possibly the FBI. I really like the show, but that one major issue really throws me. At least USA got it closer to reality with "In Plain Sight". Let me know what everyone else thinks.

[–] Taylorfirst1 14 years ago

This show does not bother me as much as NCIS. The makers of that show apparently have no idea what is within the jurisdiction of the real NCIS.

[–] Sgt_G 14 years ago

That's the second time you've posted that "NCIS" (the show) goes outside the scope of their jurisdiction. Care to elaborate? I'm trying and can't think of any episode where the case wasn't somehow Navy / USMC related.

[–] willydoe71 14 years ago

Actually, NCIC doesn't only investigate cases that are Navy/USMC related. I've worked with them a few times in unrelated matters.

[–] Taylorfirst1 14 years ago

One example. Murders of military personnel outside of military installations are investigated by the police like any other murder. Murders on mil installations are investigated by the FBI.

NCIS and CID (army) investigate burglaries drug sales, and security breaches etc. on mil property.

[–] Sgt_G 14 years ago

Wrong and wrong. While the local police will start the investigation for off-base murders, they can (and often do) hand jurisdiction over to the military. We just had a case like that here locally. And as far as FBI taking over for major crimes on-base, I've never heard of that -- ever. I do know the FBI crime scene techs were called in for a double-murder in on-post housing down the block from where I used to live, but CID was the lead investigation team.

[–] areabluelily1013 13 years ago

You really shouldn't say something as broad as "wrong and wrong," unless you're the SecNav. I've worked with NCIS my whole career as an LN, on 7 bases, including a couple overseas investigations. 4 Naval bases, 3 USMC bases, including 32nd St and Lejeune, two of the largest. Yes, we've had the FBI take charge of a few cases, it does happen. An example would be when there was an incident just off-post of a training base, where it wasn't overly large and thereby the resources of the FBI were far superior to those of the NCIS. You use the acronym CID and you go by SGT, so perhaps the Army is *gasp* different than the Navy/USMC? Not trying to be a smartass, okay maybe a little.

[–] Chaco1942 14 years ago

I think you are right, but then the whole idea behind any cinematic story is that the characters will be extraordinary and do extraordinary things.

I always wondered why U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon was also the town marshal of Dodge City on "Gunsmoke". Or how the San Juan mountains of southwestern Colorado were called in to substitute for eastern Oklahom in the original "True Grit".

But that's the magic and fantasy of it all, and why we love movies !!!

[–] mjp0717 13 years ago

I am just curious how the role of US Marshal is not being portrayed correctly?
Aren't they tracking down fugitives?
You know everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects. Will Rogers

[–] viper852681 13 years ago

If you watch the show, most of the episodes start with someone murdering or kidnapping someone and these people are not fugitives. There have only been a few cases of there being fujitives.

[–] wendyisrad 13 years ago

The fact that you spell fugitive "fujitive" tells me that YOU probably don't know what a US Marshal does. Every episode is the same - the bad guy is the run, and they are doing the investigation necessary to track down the bad guy. How is that not the same thing? They don't go over blood spatter and DNA and all that crap. They do what the need to to find the bad guy.

[–] viper852681 13 years ago

US Marshals job is to track down those who have warrants for their arrest, ie. escaped from prison, jail, broke parole, skipped bail and are on the run. Completely different than standard police work. Go on the Marshal's website as well. Find me a link that shows that they are involved in murder and kidnapping investigations where the perp is not a fugitive. And I do know what Marshal's do. I have a degree in Criminal Justice and have friends in the Marshal's dept. What about you?

[–] whitter08 13 years ago

The Marshals Service is part of the executive branch of government, the Marshals Service is the enforcement arm of the United States federal courts, and is responsible for the protection of court officers and buildings, and the effective operation of the judiciary. The service assists with court security and prisoner transport, serves arrest warrants, and seeks fugitives.

There are also different branches of the marshals:
http://www.justice.gov/marshals/duties/index.html

Tutus and so much more! http://www.facebook.com/LittleMonkeyButtTutus

[–] OCrazY 13 years ago

Ok, so can you tell me in what episode they where investigating murders and kidnappings??? maybe I missed it!! although I watched EVERY single one of the episodes....

All I see is them investigating where the fugitives went!! Maybe you are mixing things up, or you don't understand the investigations going on or something. I really don't recall them investigating any cases other than to CHASE down people!

What episodes are you talking about??

[–] darren-varney7 12 years ago

Try episode 14 - Father Figure

No fugitive there, just a paedophile

[–] tomo-rohirrim 13 years ago

Well, I don't have a degree at least not that one, and I'm not even from USA, but what I do see in this TV show is that this team of US Marshals is part of H.E.A.T. (Houston Enforcement Agencies Task Force), which obviously has some specific tasks, mandate and law jurisdiction that we can see in the show. That is certainly to help other law enforcement agencies overwhelmed with other crime investigations in situations where the perpetrator is already known to the authorities so there is no need to investigate the crime or the perpetrator left their jurisdiction. So in fact they do catch fugitives in every single episode because they have the knowledge, the experience and most important they have jurisdiction to run fugitives across the States. The authorities certainly don't call the FBI to do that, they call them when they don't know who the perpetrator is and an actual investigation is required.