A plane with police and prisoners getting on

Prisoner Transportation

Created in 1995 and managed by the U.S. Marshals Service, the Justice Prisoner Air Transportation System (JPATS) (formerly the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System) is one of the largest transporters of prisoners in the world - handling over 1, 00 requests every day to move prisoners between judicial districts and correctional institutions.

On average, JPATS completes 265,000 prisoner movements per year. A network of aircraft, cars, vans, and buses accomplishes these coordinated movements. JPATS operates a fleet of aircraft which moves prisoners over long distances more economically and with higher security than commercial airlines.

Nearly all air movements are done aboard large and small jets that JPATS owns or leases. Ground transportation is usually provided by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. JPATS is the only government-operated, scheduled passenger airline in the nation. Since its founding in 1995, JPATS has had no significant aircraft incidents or accidents.

JPATS routinely serves approximately 40 domestic cities, plus other cities in the United States on an as-required basis. Detailed itineraries are required to ensure that each prisoner appears in court at a designated time. All scheduling is handled at JPATS headquarters, located in Kansas City, Missouri. The Air fleet operations center is in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with a secondary hub in Kansas City, Missouri.

Justice Prisoner Air Transportation System

Phone: (816) 490-4700

Non-Federal Request Form for Movement

The Non-Federal request form for prisoner movement needs to be filled out prior to transportation. Prisoner must be accompanied by medical paperwork that shows TB (tuberculosis)clearance completed within the past 12 months.

Non-Federal-Movement-Request.pdf

2025 Prisoner Transportation

Fact Sheet information about Prisoner Transportation division of the U.S. Marshals Service.

2025-Prisoner-Transportation.pdf

Prisoners Eligible to be Transported using the Justice Prisoner Air Transportation System

All prisoners transported by the Justice Prisoner Air Transportation System are required to have current tuberculosis clearance. The Non-Federal customer will furnish current tuberculosis clearance paperwork (documented Medical test results showing a negative PPD or chest x-ray) completed within the past 12 months.

Additionally, prisoners with the following conditions will NOT be eligible for transport via the Justice Prisoner Air Transportation System.

Court ordered deadlines
Juveniles
Sickle cell disease/trait
Pregnant
Suicidal
Confined to a wheelchair
Major medical conditions

The Non-Federal request form for prisoner movement needs to be filled out prior to transportation. Prisoner must be accompanied by medical paperwork that shows TB (tuberculosis)clearance completed within the past 12 months.

Non-Federal-Movement-Request.pdf

Customers need to provide

A seven (7) day supply of all medications needed by the prisoner. All medications must accompany the prisoner.
Pertinent data concerning security risks or other factors regarding the prisoner
A current photo of the prisoner

Movement of Tribal Inmates

Tribal inmates must first be referred, approved, and designated under the BOP process for designation of tribal offenders as listed below. A designation letter and all required Non-Federal documents must accompany the tribal offender for transportation.

Any inquiries/requests for designation of a tribal offender go to:

TLOA (Tribal Law and Order Act) Coordinator
Designation and Sentence Computation Center
Grand Prairie Office Complex
U.S. Armed Forces Reserve Complex
346 Marine Forces Drive
Grand Prairie, TX 75051
BOP-CPD-DSC-PolicyCorrespondence-S@bop.gov
(972) 352-4400

A tribal offender cannot be simply dropped off at a BOP facility, they must follow the referral process and be designated to the BOP facility prior to movement.

Cost to Move a Non-Federal Prisoner

Cost to move a Non-Federal prisoner within the continental United States is updated on a quarterly basis. Currently, the rate will not exceed $4,108, if the movement agreement is signed and received on or before July 14, 2025. In addition, the Non-Federal customer also agrees to reimburse the U.S. Marshals Service for all other costs incurred, including, but not limited to, all medical or death expenses as may be required for the prisoner.

Requesting a Non-Federal Prisoner Movement

Non-Federal Customer will contact their local U.S. Marshals' District office
U.S. Marshals' District office will coordinate the movement with all effected U.S. Marshals’ offices, the Justice Prisoner Air Transportation System and the Non-Federal customer
Non-Federal Customer will complete the Non-Federal Request for Movement form and will contact their local U.S. Marshals' District office with this request for assistance in movement
U.S. Marshals' District office will complete and provide the Non-Federal customer a Cooperative Prisoner Transportation Agreement (Form USM-105)
Non-Federal Customer reviews, signs, and submits the Form USM-105 and supporting documents to the U.S. Marshals' District office
U.S. Marshals' District office verifies all appropriate information is provided and signed and submits the Form USM-105 and Form USM-106 to the Justice Prisoner Air Transportation System

Customer Billing

Non-Federal customers are generally billed the first week of the month following the final day of the prisoner movement. Customers should be reminded that the obligation should be paid once they receive the bill. The final bill will reflect the amount agreed upon. A discounted charge may be billed if the U.S. Marshals Service/Justice Prisoner Air Transportation System decides to move the prisoner only via ground transportation.

Reimbursement will be by check or money order made payable to the U.S. Marshals Service and mailed to the Justice Prisoner Air Transportation System, 1251 Northwest Briarcliff Parkway, Suite 300, Kansas City, MO 64116-1782. Any customer with a bill in an unpaid status after 90 days may be banned from further use of the Justice Prisoner Air Transportation System for transporting prisoners.