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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Fire camp is a miminum security prison in the CDCR. It is a perk for inmates to have a job that is outside the confines of the prison walls or fences. If your inmate gets to finish his bid at the camp, he will be released from there. Depending on the release conditions, he will likely have a probation officer that he reports to for a period of time. Some inmates get released into society straight from the camp, others
Read moreOffenders are assigned to facilities based on custody classification, space availability, level of care designations (medical and/or mental health), and many other contributing factors. While DOC would like to make assignments with only geographical considerations in mind, it is not possible to do this based on the demand for beds in various areas of the state. As such, offenders are placed in locations that best meet their needs and the space needs of the Department. Written transfer requests should be
Read moreI feel like it has made me more aware of the world around me. Before incarceration I took for granted the wonderful sights and sounds that surround us everyday. Showering barefoot, using the bathroom alone, going to bed whenever it suits me, ice cream, kids laughing, fresh fruit... the list is endless and I am appreciating them all so much more than ever before. Therefore, I feel that the time I've done has helped me enjoy my life now and ahead more than I knew I could.
Read morecall the facility
Read moreYour inmate's transfer might be held up becasue of over-crowding or becasue there are other charges pending in another jurisdiction. They call those "detainers" and they can get in the middle of transfers and releases. As an aside, he will be credited for every single day he is serving in county and it will go towards ANY sentence he was imposed.
Read moreThere is no set timetable for transferring inmates. It is all done behind the scenes and then one day, they've moved. Inmate movement is kept very quiet for security reasons. It could be weeks or months. The inmate is getting credit for the time wherever they are sitting so the law is not rushing things unless there is a judge waiting to see him. If that is the case, he'll be transferred before the court date, that's for sure.
Read moreDepends ont he arrangement they have with the US Marshal service. MOST county jails only temporarily hold federal inmates until they are taken to a privately contracted facility or their designation within the BOP.
Read moreWhan an inmate is told by the guards to "pack your $#&@" that means they are heading to A & O to be processed for transfer. What the inmate packs out is anything tangible that was collected while incarcerated. Things like books, magazines, letters and the clothing bought at commissary, food stuffs are not normally allowed. This "pack" is transferred separately and delivered to the inmate's new location where they will receive it.
Read moreNot from Level 4, not directly. The Enid Work Center is a Level 1 facility, and the classification gap between Level 4 and Level 1 is too large to bridge in a single transfer. Inmates have to step down through the custody levels over time as they demonstrate clean conduct and earn lower classifications. Level 4 means the system has assessed him as requiring a higher security environment, and that assessment has to change before any lower-security placement is on
Read moreNo, but there is a connection. The Saguaro Correctional Center is a prison operated by CCA (Corrections Corporation of America) located in Eloy, Arizona. The prison contracts with the Hawaii Department of Public Safety to house their DOC inmates.
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