A palne with police and prisoners getting on

Prisoner Transportation

In 1995, the air fleets of the Marshals Service and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement merged to create the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System (JPATS). The merger created a more efficient and effective system for transporting prisoners and criminal aliens.

Managed by the Marshals Service, Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System is one of the largest transporters of prisoners in the world - handling about 715 requests every day to move prisoners between judicial districts, correctional institutions and foreign countries.

On average, Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System completes over 260,000 prisoner/alien movements per year. A network of aircraft, cars, vans and buses accomplishes these coordinated movements. Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System 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 Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System owns or leases. Ground transportation is usually provided by the Marshals Service and the Bureau of Prisons. Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System is the only government-operated, regularly scheduled passenger airline in the nation.

Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System routinely serves approximately 42 domestic and international cities, plus other major 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 Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System headquarters, located in Kansas City, Missouri. The Air fleet operations center is in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with a hub in Las Vegas.

Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System Celebrates 30 Years of Owned Aircraft Operations

On August 20th, 2015, the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System recognized a major milestone. Thirty years prior, the then-National Prisoner Transfer Service executed its first movement on aircraft solely owned and operated by the U.S. Marshals Service.

The Boeing 727, piloted by Jerry Hurd, Bill Ardies and Mark Landol made stops in Denver, Salt Lake City, Sacramento, Vandenburg AFB, and San Diego, ending the day in Tucson. The remembrance mission shown above, was celebrated at the end of a normal Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System mission, flown by senior pilots Assistant Chief Riley Finley and Jeff Winans.

Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System has flown over 70,000 hours of large aircraft activity with no significant incidents or accidents.

Justice Prisoner and Alien 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-Fed-Request-Movement.pdf

2022 Prisoner Transportation

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

2022-Prisoner-Transportation.pdf

Prisoners Eligible to be Transported using Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System

All prisoners transported by Justice Prisoner and Alien 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 Justice Prisoner and Alien 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-Fed-Request-Movement.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 $2,838, if the movement agreement is signed and received on or before October 16, 2023. 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, Justice Prisoner and Alien 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 Justice Prisoner and Alien 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 and Alien 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 Justice Prisoner and Alien 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 Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System for transporting prisoners.