Inmate Transfer — Ask the Inmate
An inmate transfer can happen with little or no warning and the period of silence that follows, when families do not know where their loved one is or how to reach them, is one of the most anxious experiences in the entire incarceration journey. This section covers why transfers happen, how the transfer process works in federal and state systems, what diesel therapy is and why it occurs, how long the transit period typically lasts, why an inmate may temporarily disappear from the BOP locator during a transfer, and what families can do to locate their loved one and restore communication as quickly as possible. The guidance here comes from real experience with the transfer process, including what it feels like from inside and how families on the outside can best support someone going through it. See also our sections on Inmate Search, Inmate Phone Calls, and Send Inmate Mail.
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Yes, as long as the transfer stays within the same state system the money should follow him. In the Arizona Department of Corrections system, phone accounts are tied to the inmate rather than the specific facility, which means funds deposited through the ADC website travel with the inmate when they move to another ADC prison. The key phrase is within the system. A transfer from one ADC facility to another keeps everything intact. If he were to be transferred
Read moreInmate transfers are not publicized for security reasons. You will have to wait until his new designation is published on the BOP website. Once he has landed at his new location he will be able to resume contact with you.
Read moreThey will not let the public know of the new location as it is a security risk to the transporting marshals, so they keep this information private until the move has happened. In many cases, the US Marshal service will transport the inmates to Oklahoma FTC which is a prison actually situated on the tarmac of the Oklahoma City International Airport. The inmate could stay there for one night or several weeks until the designation is ready and able to
Read moreLogin to your InmateAid account and navigate to the inmate profile to update the facility address. If you have trouble locating the new address, the InmateAid support team can assist. Update the address before sending any new letters to ensure delivery to the correct facility. If you run into any difficulty updating the address in your account or locating the correct new facility information, InmateAid customer support is available to help. The team can look up the inmate in
Read moreit all depends on what stage of the process they are in; they might send the belongings home. there are three kinds of transfers, one - a request by the inmate, two - an administrative transfer as a step-down in custody level and the third - punitive where there is an increase in the custody level. whatever the conditions are in this case, they will NEVER disclose when the transfer is to take place for security precautions.
Read moreWhen an inmate is transferred from one facility to another their personal property is supposed to move with them. Clothing, including dress out clothes set aside for release, typically travels with the inmate as part of their property inventory. That said, the process is not always seamless. Transfers happen quickly and sometimes property gets logged, boxed, and shipped separately rather than traveling at the same time as the inmate. There can be a lag between when the inmate arrives
Read moreIn most cases no. Each state department of corrections runs its own offender management system with its own numbering format. When an inmate is transferred from Hawaii to Arizona, or any state-to-state transfer for that matter, the receiving state typically assigns a new identification number within its own system. The Hawaii-issued number and the Arizona-issued number are separate identifiers that exist in separate databases. This can create real confusion for families trying to track a loved one, add funds
Read moreWhen someone has served time in one state but is originally from another, the path home is not always a straight line. Interstate transfers and the timeline involved depend heavily on whether any detainers or pending charges exist along the way. A detainer is a formal hold placed by a jurisdiction that has an outstanding warrant, charge, or case pending against an inmate. Even something minor can trigger a detainer and once one is in place the releasing facility
Read moreThe multi-state situation you are describing is confusing but follows a logical process once the pieces are laid out. When your boyfriend was arrested in Alabama, his fingerprints were automatically run through the NCIC, the National Crime Information Center, which is a federal database that tracks outstanding warrants across all 50 states. That search flagged an active Florida matter, which was serious enough for Florida to request that he be held and transferred back to face it. The arrest
Read moreIt might mean something but guessing at the answer is not going to help. It might be as simple as there was crowding in one building and they had room in the other. It might be disciplinary or it might be an upgrade for good behavior. Whatever the reason, there isn't much that people on the outside can do to change it. Stressing over a potential reason isn't good for you either.
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