Diesel Therapy

Diesel therapy is a colloquial term for the federal prisoner transport system, in which inmates are shackled and transported for extended periods—sometimes days or weeks—between correctional facilities, county jails, and federal transfer centers. The term refers to the diesel fuel used in prison transport buses. While the transport system serves legitimate purposes in moving inmates between facilities, critics have described it as one of the cruelest aspects of federal incarceration due to uncomfortable conditions, lack of communication, and the psychological stress of extended transit.

The transport system is operated by the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System (JPATS), commonly known as "Con Air," which is the world's largest prisoner transport network, moving over 260,000 inmates and detainees per year through a combination of aircraft and ground vehicles.

Overview

When federal inmates are transferred between facilities—whether due to initial designation after sentencing, disciplinary transfer, security concerns, medical needs, or proximity to family—they enter the federal transport system. This system moves inmates through a network of routes connecting federal prisons, county jails contracted to hold federal inmates, and federal transfer centers.

The process is characterized by:

• No advance notice: Inmates typically learn of their transfer when awakened before dawn and told to pack
• Extended duration: Transfers that could theoretically take hours may take days or weeks
• Multiple stops: Inmates are often "warehoused" at county jails along the route for indeterminate periods
• Harsh conditions: Full restraints (handcuffs and leg irons), steel benches, limited food and water
• No communication: Inability to contact family or attorneys during transit
• Property separation: Most belongings shipped separately, often arriving late or damaged

The Transport System

JPATS (Con Air)

The Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System (JPATS) is the official name for the federal prisoner transport system operated by the U.S. Marshals Service. It earned the nickname "Con Air" from the 1997 Nicolas Cage film, though the reality is far less cinematic.

JPATS was formed in 1995 from the merger of the U.S. Marshals Service air fleet with that of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The system:

• Completes over 260,000 prisoner movements per year
• Operates aircraft and ground vehicles
• Maintains its primary hub at the Federal Transfer Center at Oklahoma City's Will Rogers World Airport
• Has additional hubs in Las Vegas, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands
• Contracts with county jails nationwide to hold inmates in transit

Despite the "Con Air" association with aircraft, most inmate transport occurs via buses and vans. The aircraft are typically used for longer-distance transfers or high-security movements.

Ground Transport

The majority of federal prisoner transport occurs on diesel buses operated by the U.S. Marshals Service or contracted private transport companies. Conditions include:

• Seating: Steel benches approximately 6 inches wide with bolt-upright backs
• Space: Approximately 10 inches of knee room
• Restraints: Full restraints (handcuffs connected to waist chains, leg irons) worn for 12-24 hours at a time
• Climate: Variable—some buses lack adequate heating or air conditioning
• Facilities: Small onboard toilets that may be non-functional or overflow
• Food and water: Minimal, often just a bag lunch and limited water

One former inmate described being on a prison bus for more than three hours through Alabama with hands and feet shackled together, no water or air conditioning in summer heat, and an overflowed toilet on the floor.

County Jail Holdover

A significant portion of time in "diesel therapy" is spent not in transport, but in county jails along the route. The U.S. Marshals Service contracts with local jails to house federal inmates in transit, paying per-day rates for each bed occupied.

County jail holdover involves:

• Unpredictable duration: Inmates may be held for one night or several weeks
• Variable conditions: County jails vary dramatically in quality, overcrowding, and services
• Limited access: Federal holdover inmates often cannot access commissary, programs, or regular phone service
• Information blackout: Neither the inmate nor their family knows how long the stay will last

Critics note that the per-day payment system creates financial incentives for extended transfers and multiple stops, contributing to what inmates experience as unnecessarily prolonged journeys.

Why Inmates Are Transferred

Federal inmates may be transferred for various legitimate reasons:

Initial Designation

After sentencing, inmates who do not self-surrender are transported from their detention location to their designated facility. This initial transport through the system can take several weeks.

Security Transfers

Inmates may be moved due to:

• Threats to their safety at current facility
• Gang-related concerns
• Disciplinary issues requiring removal from a facility
• Increasing or decreasing security level

Medical Transfers

Inmates requiring specialized medical care may be transferred to Federal Medical Centers or hospitals.

Court Appearances

Inmates needed for court proceedings (writ trips) are transported to districts where they have pending cases.

Family Proximity

Inmates may request transfer to facilities closer to their families, though such requests often take months or years to process.

Diesel Therapy as Punishment

While the transport system serves legitimate purposes, some inmates and advocates allege it is deliberately used to punish or disorient certain prisoners.

Alleged Punitive Use

Claims of punitive diesel therapy include:

• Sending inmates to incorrect destinations deliberately
• Routing transfers through unnecessary stops
• Using extended transfers to disrupt legal defense coordination
• Retaliating against inmates who file grievances or complaints
• Disorienting inmates prior to important court appearances

CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou alleged he was threatened with permanent Con Air status for complaining to the press about prison conditions.

Legal Status

Courts have found that deliberately excessive transport used purely as punishment violates inmates' constitutional rights. However, proving that a specific transfer was punitive rather than administrative is extremely difficult, as the BOP has broad discretion over inmate placement and movement.

Notable Cases

Several high-profile cases have involved allegations of diesel therapy:

• George Hansen: Former Congressman who claimed extended transport was used to punish him
• Susan McDougal: Whitewater defendant who alleged deliberate transport harassment
• Adam Collier: California inmate transferred 39 times in four years, documented in investigations of "inmate shuffle" practices

Impact on Inmates

Physical Effects

Extended time in restraints and uncomfortable positions can cause:

• Numbness and circulatory problems
• Back and joint pain
• Dehydration
• Sleep deprivation
• Difficulty eating (hands restrained)
• Inadequate access to prescribed medications

Psychological Effects

The uncertainty and isolation of diesel therapy creates significant psychological stress:

• Anxiety about destination and duration
• Inability to communicate with family
• Disruption of established routines and relationships
• Loss of access to programs, classes, and jobs
• Fear of starting over at a new facility

Legal Impact

Extended transport can seriously impact legal matters:

• Inability to communicate with attorneys
• Missing court deadlines
• Difficulty preparing for hearings
• Disruption of legal mail
• Loss of legal documents during property transfers

Family Impact

Families experience significant stress when their loved one enters the transport system:

• No information about location or arrival date
• Inability to visit or communicate
• Uncertainty about property and belongings
• Financial burden of planned visits that must be canceled

How to Avoid Diesel Therapy

Self-Surrender

The most effective way to avoid extended diesel therapy is to self-surrender directly to your designated facility. This means:

1. Negotiating voluntary surrender as part of your plea agreement 2. Remaining free between sentencing and your surrender date 3. Traveling to your designated prison on your own 4. Reporting directly to the facility on your assigned date

Self-surrender allows you to:

• Avoid the transport system entirely
• Say goodbye to family on your own terms
• Arrive at your facility without the trauma of extended transfer
• Keep your property with you
• Begin your sentence in better mental and physical condition

This is one of the most important benefits of working with an experienced federal defense attorney or prison consultant who understands the designation and surrender process.

If You Cannot Self-Surrender

For inmates who cannot self-surrender (denied bail, held in detention, violated conditions of release), diesel therapy may be unavoidable. Strategies to minimize impact include:

• Keep essential items (legal documents, medications list, glasses) on your person
• Notify family of likely communication blackout
• Provide attorney with BOP register number so they can track you
• Keep property minimal to reduce loss risk
• Mentally prepare for extended, uncomfortable transit

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is diesel therapy in federal prison?

Diesel therapy is slang for the federal prison transport system where inmates are shackled and transported for days or weeks between facilities. The term refers to the diesel fuel used in prison transport buses. During transfers, inmates may be moved through multiple county jails and federal transfer centers, often with no advance notice and limited communication with family or attorneys. While intended as a necessary logistics system, critics allege it is sometimes used to punish or disorient problematic inmates.

Q: How long does diesel therapy last?

The duration of diesel therapy varies widely. A routine transfer might take a few days to two weeks, but some inmates have reported being in transit for months. One former inmate reported 7 months of continuous transfers. During this time, inmates are moved between county jails, federal transfer centers, and transport vehicles with no fixed schedule or advance notice of when they will reach their final destination.

Q: What is JPATS or Con Air?

JPATS stands for Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System, the official air transport system run by the U.S. Marshals Service. It is nicknamed "Con Air" after the popular 1997 movie. JPATS is the largest prisoner transport network in the world, completing over 260,000 prisoner movements per year. The system uses both aircraft and ground transportation, with major hubs in Oklahoma City, Las Vegas, and Puerto Rico.

Q: What are conditions like during prison transport?

Conditions during federal prison transport are extremely uncomfortable. Inmates are placed in handcuffs and leg irons for 12-24 hours at a time. Transport buses have steel benches about 6 inches wide with bolt-upright backs and approximately 10 inches of knee room. Restroom breaks are limited, and inmates may go hours without water. There is no advance notice of transfers or destinations. Inmates are often held in county jails for days or weeks during the transfer process.

Q: How can you avoid diesel therapy?

The best way to avoid extended diesel therapy is to self-surrender directly to your designated facility when sentenced, rather than being taken into custody at sentencing and transported through the system. Defendants who negotiate voluntary surrender as part of their plea agreement can report directly to their assigned prison, bypassing the transfer system entirely. This is one of many reasons why working with a prison consultant or attorney experienced in federal sentencing is valuable.

Q: Is diesel therapy used as punishment?

Some inmates and advocates allege that diesel therapy is deliberately used to punish or disorient problematic inmates, disrupt legal defense coordination, or retaliate against those who file grievances. Courts have deemed deliberate excessive transport as illegal when used purely for punishment. However, proving that a specific transfer was punitive rather than administrative is difficult. Notable cases involving alleged diesel therapy include those of George Hansen and Susan McDougal.

Q: Can you contact family during diesel therapy?

Communication during diesel therapy is extremely limited. Inmates cannot make phone calls while in transport vehicles. When held in county jails during transfers, phone access is inconsistent and often unavailable to federal holdover inmates. Family members typically have no idea where their loved one is located or when they will arrive at their destination. This lack of communication is one of the most stressful aspects of the transfer process for both inmates and families.

Q: What happens to your property during diesel therapy?

Personal property is a major concern during diesel therapy. Inmates are typically limited to one small bag of essential items during transport. The rest of their property is packed and shipped separately, often arriving weeks or months after the inmate reaches their destination—if it arrives at all. Property loss and damage during transfers is common. Inmates are advised to keep legal documents and essential medications with them and minimize valuable personal property.

Terminology

• Diesel Therapy: Slang for extended prisoner transport, named for the diesel fuel in transport buses
• JPATS: Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System, the official federal transport system
• Con Air: Nickname for JPATS, from the 1997 movie
• Holdover: An inmate being held temporarily at a county jail during transport
• Writ Trip: Transport for a court appearance
• Bus Therapy: Another term for diesel therapy
• Chain: Slang for being in the transport system ("going out on the chain")

See also

• Special Housing Units (SHU)
• Self-Surrender Procedures
• Prison Consultants
• Bureau of Prisons Classification Methods
• Federal Prison Camps