
Prisoner Operation Resources
- Public Defender's Handbook
- Subpoenas
- Non-Custodial Transportation of Defendants
- Travel, Lodging, Meals and Incidental Expenses
- Travel by Privately Owned Vehicle (POV)
- Appearance
- Fact Witness Voucher
- Presiding Officer of the Court
- Special Situations
- Notice to Fact Witnesses (OBD-2)
- Prisoner Photographs
- Prisoner Marriages
- Court Productions and Writs
- Federal Bureau of Prisons
- Introduction
- Definitions
- Approved Health Care Services
- Cardiology
- General Medicine and Laboratory
- Hearing Aids and Batteries
- Dental
- Obstetrics/Gynecology (OBGYN)
- Orthopedics
- Pharmacy Medications
- Radiology
- Post-Surgery
- Mental Health/Psychology/Psychiatry Consults
- Optometry/Ophthalmology
- Durable Medical Equipment
- Emergency Care
- Oxygen
Non-Custodial Transportation of Defendants
Prisoners on Bond
18 U.S.C., Section 4285 authorizes payment for the travel of released indigent criminal defendants on bail at court proceedings. This section allows the court to direct the U.S. Marshals to arrange for the "non-custodial one-way transportation" (i.e., payment of travel expenses) of a defendant on bond "to the place where his appearance [before the court] is required."
Once the court determines that a defendant or bond is unable to afford his own transportation to court, the court can direct the U.S. Marshals to provide the cost of one-way transportation to the court city. This authority is limited to payment of one-time transportation for the defendant's court appearance only. Travel is not authorized for pretrial consultations with defense attorneys or for pretrial service consultations.
Once a defendant travels to the court's jurisdiction, the U.S. Marshals is not authorized to provide the defendant with subsistence payments at the trial site. The defendant should either:
- remain in the court's jurisdiction, or
- travel at his own expense, or
- contact Pretrial services for assistance
18 U.S.C., Section 3154 provides guidance for assistance for the defendant while in the court city for trial. For additional guidance, please refer to 18 U.S.C., Section 3006a.