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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Subject: Inmate transfer
The good news is that in most state systems the approved call list travels with the inmate rather than being wiped and rebuilt from scratch at each new facility. The list is tied to the inmate's DOC number rather than to a specific location, which means your number should still be on there when they arrive at the new facility.
The gap in calls after a transfer is almost always about logistics rather than the list itself. When an inmate arrives...
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In the federal system the approved call list stays intact through transfers. It is tied to the inmate's register number rather than to a specific facility, so when they arrive at the new camp their existing list of approved numbers comes with them. You do not need to reapply or go through a new approval process on your end.
The only gap in calls after a transfer is the logistics of getting settled at the new facility. Once your inmate is...
Read moreSubject: Inmate transfer
There is no set timeline, and that uncertainty is one of the more frustrating parts of this situation for families trying to plan around it.
When an inmate completes their sentence but has an interstate detainer waiting, they do not walk out the door. They stay in custody at the current facility until the requesting state arranges transport. How long that takes depends almost entirely on logistics and resources on the other end. The requesting jurisdiction has to schedule a transport...
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Yes, unfortunately it is, and the lawyer who promised otherwise was not being straight with you.
Facility designation in the federal system is controlled entirely by the Bureau of Prisons Designation and Sentence Computation Center in Grand Prairie, Texas. Nobody outside of that office has binding authority over where an inmate gets placed. Not the sentencing judge, not the defense attorney, not the prosecutor. The judge can recommend a facility close to the inmate's home address in the sentencing order, and...
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It's all about bed space, not a time limit. She'll just have to be patient and wait for the call.
Subject: Inmate transfer
Yes, probation transfers are possible, but they require cooperation from multiple parties and a compelling case for why the transfer serves the interests of successful supervision.
The process is called an interstate or intercounty probation transfer, and it works like this. Your boyfriend would need to formally request the transfer through his San Diego probation officer. That request gets reviewed by the sentencing judge in San Diego, who has to agree that transferring supervision is appropriate. The receiving jurisdiction, in this...
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Two weeks of waiting is not unusual, and unfortunately there is no guaranteed timeline that either county is legally obligated to meet outside of one specific circumstance.
Inter-county transfers in Pennsylvania happen when the receiving county, in this case Allegheny, can spare two deputies to make the trip to Butler and bring him back. That sounds simple but it depends entirely on staffing availability, scheduling, and how many other transports Allegheny County has in the queue at the same time. Large...
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There is no set time period. It is first come, first served so to speak. If there is an opening, the inmate willl get the call to "pack out".
Subject: Inmate transfer
As long as it takes. Detainers are honored by almost all jurisdictions unless it is an ICE issue, then some sanctuary city detention centers will not honor the detainer. If this is not ICE, they will take their sweet time when two officers can travel to pick up their hold.
Subject: Inmate transfer
It is understandable to want to help, but the honest answer is that people on the outside have no formal influence over where an inmate is housed or what custody level they are assigned to.
This surprises a lot of families because it seems like something a judge or an attorney could at least push for. The reality is that even a judge cannot dictate facility placement. A judge can recommend or suggest a particular type of facility in the sentencing...
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Family transport for an inmate transfer is not standard practice and has not been something commonly granted at federal camps, but the situation at minimum security camps is unique enough that it is worth asking directly.
Federal prison camps house the lowest security level inmates in the Bureau of Prisons system, and that classification comes with privileges that do not exist at higher security levels. One of those is the possibility of unescorted travel for transfers. Rather than being transported in...
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Your son is currently at FTC-Oklahoma City. This is normally a place where inmates in transit stay over when there is crowding. Our site updates the federal inmate location every week.
Subject: Inmate transfer
Interstate parole transfers are handled through the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision, which is the formal agreement between states that governs exactly this kind of situation. Every state participates in the compact, which means West Virginia and Florida both have an established process for handling transfer requests.
The process starts on the inside. Your person needs to formally request an interstate transfer through their West Virginia parole officer. That request gets submitted through the compact process and Florida's supervision authority...
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The rumor that Florida does not extradite is false. Florida extradites aggressively and does not limit that pursuit based on distance or state lines.
Felony warrants including probation violation warrants are pursued by Florida regardless of where the person is picked up. Alabama, Alaska, or anywhere else, Florida will send transport officers to collect someone on an active felony warrant. The state has a well established extradition process and treats probation violations seriously, particularly because a violation represents a breach of...
Read moreSubject: Inmate transfer
What you are describing is a contract prison arrangement, which is more common than most people realize. California and Arizona both periodically house state inmates in out-of-state facilities, including private contract prisons in Mississippi, when their own facilities are overcrowded or when population management requires it.
There are several reasons an inmate in that situation would be moved back to their home state.
Overcrowding relief works in both directions. If the home state facility has created space or if the contract arrangement...
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