Fugitives From Justice

 

Part I.

A.      General Rules Pertaining to all Fugitives

1.    The charge of “fugitive from justice” is a holding charge only and carries no penalty under the D.C. Code; however, procedures for the booking are the same as if the person were arrested for a criminal offence.  Arresting officers shall prepare PD Form 251 (Event Report), 255 (Arrest Report), and 163 (Prosecution report) in connection with such arrests unless it can be determine that a local fugitive warrant is on file for the arrested person.  If a local fugitive warrant is on file, the Fugitive Unit, Criminal Investigations Division, has already executed a PD 251.  The arresting officer shall ascertain the central complaint number of that report and prepare and forward PD Forms 255 and 163.  The PD 252 (Supplemental Report) will be prepared by the Fugitive Unit.

 

2.    Members of the force preparing PD forms 251, 252, 255, and 163 in connection with the arrest of fugitives shall list the Chief of Police or Sheriff of the Jurisdiction in which the offence occurred as the complainant.

 

3.    Members shall not turn fugitives over to or accept them from police officers or other agents of any other jurisdiction prior to the arraign­ment of the fugitive before a judge or committing magistrate of the jurisdiction In which the apprehension of the fugitive took place.

 

4.    Members shall not assist ball bondsmen In the execution of attachments issued by courts or magistrates of other jurisdictions but shall direct the ball bondsmen to appear In person at the Office of the Fugitive Unit or desk lieutenant on duty In the Criminal Investigations Division for assis­tance and guidance.

 

5.    Members shall not assist other law enforcement officers or agents of any jurisdiction In the execution of arrest or bench warrants or attachments without obtaining the approval as stipulated In General Order 702.1, part 1-D. In addition, the supervisor of the Fugitive Unit shall be contacted or, in his absence, the Desk Lieutenant, Criminal Investigations Division.

 

B.       Adult Fugitives.

 

1.               Members who arrest adult persons as fugitives from other juris­dictions, if no other charges are to be placed against them, shall:

a.       Book and process the person as a fugitive from justice, ex­ecuting all necessary forms.

 

 

General Order 501.6

Effective Date:  September 11, 1977

Page    2  of  4

 

b.       Hand-deliver a copy of the PD Form 163 and any warrants from other jurisdictions pertaining to the case to the Office of the Fugitive Unit or desk lieutenant when the prisoner is processed through the Identification and Records Division. The responsibility of arresting officers for further proces­sing of the fugitive shall end at this point, and the Fugitive Unit shall accomplish processing of the fugitive through the District of Columbia Superior Court.

 

c.        Call the office of the Fugitive Unit within 5 days of the original arrest to obtain a final disposition of the case.

 

2.       Members who arrest adult persons for violation of any law of the District of Columbia or United States and later find that the person Is also wanted as a fugitive from another jurisdiction shall:

 

a.       Book and process the person as a fugitive from justice, In addition to any local charges, executing all necessary PD forms.

b.      Report to the Supervisor, Fugitive Unit, with all required reports for appearance in court.

 

B.       Juvenile Fugitives.

Members who apprehend fugitives considered to be juveniles under the laws of the District of Columbia shall prepare a P.D. Form 163 and immediately contact a District Youth Services Officer or a Youth Division Officer, which ever unit Is appropriate.

 

1.    Any juvenile arrested as a “Fugitive from Justice” shall be pro­cessed under the provisions of the Interstate Compact on Juveniles, D.C. Code Section 32-1102; outlined in General Order 305.1, Part 1F3, (Handling of Juve­niles), except:

 

a.        In Instances where a certified copy of an adult arrest war­rant is In the possession of the department or

 

b.       In instances where a member of the Fugitive Unit, Special Investigations Branch, Criminal Investigations Division has either telephonically or through teletype verified the exis­tence of an adult arrest warrant in the issuing jurisdiction.

 

2.    Juveniles arrested on a certified copy of an adult arrest warrant as stipulated in Part IC1 a and b above shall be booked and processed In the same manner as an adult fugitive except for purposes of transportation and de­tention. A P.D. Form 163 shall be prepared.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Order 501.6

Effective Date:  September 11, 1977

Page    3  of  4

 

PART II

 

A.      Supervisor, Fugitive Unit.

The supervisor or person then in charge of the Fugitive Unit shall:

 

1.                      Receive copies of all PD Forms 163 and warrants pertaining to fugitives from justice as required.

2.               Assign members of the Fugitive Unit to process fugitives from justice through the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

3.               Upon notification that a person arrested on D.C. charges Is also wanted as a fugitive from justice, be responsible for the notification and filing of any necessary detainers.

 

4.      Maintain records of the final court disposition of all fugitives cases until such time as arresting officers receive the disposition.

 

5.       Be responsible for filing detainers in other jurisdictions where persons have been arrested and are wanted in the District of Columbia.

 

6.       Be responsible for the receipt and processing of all warrants for fugitives from justice from other jurisdictions, including execution of the PD Form 251.

 

7.         Be responsible for processing all adult and juvenile fugitives through the Superior Court of the District of Columbia except those handled through the Interstate Compact on Juveniles.

 

8.         Be responsible for the booking, preparation of all necessary PD forms, and further processing of all adult and juvenile fugitives from other jurisdictions when fugitive charges have not been Initiated by other members of the force.

 

9.      Be responsible for all Incoming teletype messages from other jurisdictions relative to criminal offenses.

 

10.       Be responsible for all NCIC inquiries on persons wanted in other jurisdictions.

 

                              11. Be responsible for processing all fugitives wanted In the Dis­trict of Columbia that have been arrested In other ‘jurisdictions.

 

12.       Be responsible for the LOOK OUT FOR (LOF) Program to include:

 

a.      The bimonthly selection of fugitives to be featured in the LOOK OUT FOR (LOF) flyer. The information contained in these flyers will assist members In the apprehension of cer­tain fugitives wanted by this department.

 

b.      Forwarding the LOF form with c’ear photographs and descrip­tive information to Planning arid Development for processing (request for printing services).

 

c.       The dissemination of LOF flyers to selected Individuals and organizations as determined by the Lieutenant in charge of the Fugitive Unit (these flyers shall be prepared for mail­ing five days prior to the effective date of the flyer).

 

 

General Order 501.6

Effective Date:  September 11, 1977

Page    4  of  4

 

d.            Notifying law enforcement agencies on the distribution list by teletype, followed by a form letter, regarding cancella­tions on the LOF flyer of wanted fugitives. The other organizations on the distribution list shall be notified by form letter, followed by a telephone call, to ensure that the letter was received.

 

B.       Commanding Officer, Youth Division.

The Commanding Officer, Youth Division shall make all arrangements necessary for the detention of fugitives from justice who are considered to be juveniles under the laws of the District of Columbia.

 

C.       Desk Lieutenant, Criminal Investigations Division.

The desk lieutenant on duty’ in the Criminal Investigations Division shall:

1.      Receive all PD Forms 163, notifications and warrants for the supervisor, Fugitive Unit, during those hours that the Office of Fugitive Unit is closed.

 

2.      Transmit all notifications, PD Forms 163, and warrants to the supervisor or person then in charge of the Fugitive Unit as soon as possible.

 

3.      Notify the member of the Fugitive Unit who is on call” when any case involving a fugitive requires immediate processing or when needing assis­tance.

 

D.       Commanding Officers.

 

Commanding Officers shall:

Ensure that the Community Services Unit within each police district shall disseminate LOOK OUT FOR (LOF) flyers to those locations (shopping cen­ters, stores, public buildings. etc.) where the flyers are likely to be seen by the public.

 

 

 

Maurice T. Turner, Jr.

Chief of Police

 

MTT:MFB:jtw                                                                                                                                                      General Order No. 501.6

                                                                                                                                                                                             (Revised 4/11/83)