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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Transfers happen for several reasons and understanding which applies to your loved one requires knowing a few details about where they came from and where they went. The most common and most positive reason is a custody level reduction. As inmates serve their sentence without major infractions, their security classification is periodically reviewed and often reduced. A lower classification results in a transfer to a facility that matches their new risk level. Moving from a medium or high-security facility
Read moreTransfers happen for several reasons and without knowing the specific circumstances, it is difficult to say with certainty which applies to your son. Here is an honest breakdown of the possibilities so you can better assess the situation. The positive reasons for a transfer close to release include a reduction in custody classification. As inmates approach their release date their security level is often reviewed and reduced, resulting in a move to a facility that better matches their lower
Read moreThe timeline depends on where he transferred from. If the transfer was within the same prison system, meaning one Minnesota DOC facility to another, the intake process tends to move faster because his records, classification, and approved contacts are already in the system. Phone and visitation access can sometimes be restored within a few days in that scenario. If the transfer crossed agencies, such as coming from a county facility into the state system, or from another state's system,
Read morethere is no time frame. they are locked up and they don't need to transfer them until the next court date
Read moreInmates are allowed to bring a "box" with any item they purchased or were sent to them that is in their possession at the time of transfer. Shoes, clothing, reading material, pictures, personal etters or hygiene products are within that list of acceptable 'box items'.
Read moreMost inmates on transfer might spend a night or a week in the SHU awaiting a bed in the facility. The situation you are referring to is called "separatee", where two inmates are either co-defendants OR "they know each other" and are required to be segregated. There are two types of segregation outlined by the Bureau of Prisons: disciplinary and administrative detention. This one is administrative.
Read morehe will have to wait at least 6 months before he can ask for a transfer.
Read moreThey do not notify anyone before coming and collecting an inmate for transport. All inmate movement is kept confidential for the safety of the transporting guards.
Read moreIf they are approved and awaiting transfer it depends on the bed space available in the treatment dorm
Read moreYes, you should wait until they are confirmed at their permanent housing unit to send anything. There is no address for "In Transit".
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