Warrants/Fugitives Unit

The Warrants/Fugitive Unit is responsible for arranging the extradition of prisoners from the State of Utah back to their home states, where there are existing charges. This involves sensitive material along with court documents and Governor's Warrants, which are needed to facilitate these transfers.

Another detective is assigned the responsibility of signing 98% of the "information" generated by different patrol divisions and investigative unit within the Sheriff's Office. During 1999, this detective was responsible for over 6,300 cases files and warrants signed with the District Attorney's Office and the Third District Court.

Investigators are responsible for the apprehension and arrest of suspects wanted by the Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement agencies within the county. The unit handles an average of 4,000 felony warrants at any one time, having 2,840 new warrants assigned to it in 1999 with 1,387 of them cleared by arrest. These investigators also transport prisoners arrested in other jurisdictions throughout the state back to our jail, as well as fugitives wanted by other states who live in Utah. There is one additional warrant investigator assigned to the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force.

The Warrants Unit also investigates escapes from our jail. There were only two escapees in 1999, both occurring while en route to court. These escapees were both apprehended within a short time.

At the end of 1999 the Unit added a U.S. Deputy Marshal to its squad to assist in the hunt for fugitives. This cooperative effort facilitates the arrest of individuals wanted on both local and federal charges.