§261. Department of Justice Fugitive Apprehension Unit

            A. The attorney general shall maintain a statewide Fugitive Apprehension Unit within the investigation division of the Department of Justice. The Fugitive Apprehension Unit shall be comprised of special agents who shall be P.O.S.T.-certified peace officers commissioned by the attorney general, intelligence analysts, and support personnel. The unit shall be responsible for apprehending fugitives and shall perform the following activities:

            (1) Coordinate with and assist local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies including but not limited to the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, the office of state police, the office of probation and parole, sheriffs departments, police departments, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and other federal law enforcement agencies, to apprehend fugitives.

            (2) Provide assistance to law enforcement agencies that are actively pursuing fugitives and individuals who have violated the terms and conditions of court-ordered electronic monitoring programs.

            (3) Execute arrest warrants and make warrantless arrests as prescribed by law.

            (4) Give priority to proactively targeting fugitives wanted for violent felony offenses, including murder, rape, armed robbery, and other heinous crimes.

            (5) Establish or participate in fugitive task forces with other state or federal law enforcement agencies to address the need for increased resources in the apprehension of fugitives.

            (6) Identify, pursue, and arrest any person who shall harbor, conceal, or aid a fugitive, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that the offender is a fugitive, and with the intent that the fugitive may avoid or escape from arrest, trial, conviction, or punishment.

            B. The attorney general shall appoint and commission special agents who shall be P.O.S.T.-certified peace officers vested with all the powers conferred by law upon peace officers of this state.

            Acts 2025, No. 264, §1.