"Adam Walsh Act" Designates U.S. Marshals to Catch Unregistered Sex Offenders

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT:
July 27, 2006	U.S. Marshals Headquarters Office of Public Affairs, (202) 307-9065


“Adam Walsh Act” Designates U.S. MARSHALS TO CATCH UNREGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS

Washington, DC – The “Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act” was signed into law by President Bush today, on the 25th anniversary of Adam’s abduction and murder. The Act makes it a federal felony for convicted sex-offenders to fail to register with their local authorities. The U.S. Marshals Service was designated by the Act as the agency to lead the national effort to track down and arrest these fugitive felons. "We have been working with our state and local partners for some time to go after sexual predators, but when this legislation is fully implemented, unregistered sex offenders will be considered federal fugitives, and they will be a priority for Deputy U.S. Marshals across this country, “ said John Clark, Director of the Marshals Service. “We look forward to working with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to arrest those sex offenders who lurk in our neighborhoods, and threaten the safety of our children and communities,” added Clark. The formation of the Sexual Predator Crimes Branch at Marshals Service headquarters was announced by Bob Finan, Assistant Director of Investigative Service Division. The new branch will ensure that the Marshals Service is prepared to rapidly respond to this new and critically important mission. So far this Fiscal Year, from October 1, 2005 through July 26, the U.S. Marshals have arrested 718 unregistered sex offenders, an additional 1,849 fugitives for sexual assault charges, and also 1,257 fugitives wanted for other sex offenses. During the week from April 17 to April 23 this year, the U.S. Marshals arrested 1,102 fugitives wanted for committing felony sex offenses, violent sexual assaults, and failure to register as sex offenders, during Operation FALCON II. This operation occurred primarily in the 27 states west of the Mississippi River Operation FALCON II fugitives were wanted by the Marshals Service, other federal agencies, and courts at every level of government. Because the highest priority was given to sexual predators and unregistered convicted sex offenders, the USMS entered into a partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which provided high-profile cases and facilitated contacts with state agencies that maintain sex offender registries. In the near future, Operation FALCON III will be conducted in the states and territories east of the Mississippi. The apprehension of felons wanted for sex offenses will again be a priority for the U.S. Marshals.