Custody of Prisoners
The U.S. Marshals Service is responsible for the safe and secure confinement, care and transportation of federal prisoners from the time of court-ordered custody until either their acquittal or their conviction and delivery to the Federal Bureau of Prisons to serve their sentence.
Once ordered into custody by a U.S. District Court, the U.S. Marshals Service assumes responsibility for all prisoners charged with a federal offense, regardless of which state, local or federal law enforcement agency made the arrest.

Operations Program Overview
The U.S. Marshals Service houses over 63,000 prisoners in federal, state, local and private jails throughout the nation. In order to house these pre-sentenced prisoners, the U.S. Marshals Service contracts with approximately 1,200 state and local governments to rent jail space.
Seventy-five percent of the prisoners in U.S. Marshals custody are detained in state, local and private facilities; the remainder are housed in Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities.
Did you know?
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$2.21 billion was total expenditures for federal prisoners in U.S. Marshals custody in fiscal 2021.
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$101.30 was average daily prisoner detention cost.
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466,429 prisoners escorted by U.S. Marshals Service to court appearances and other required events.
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100,182 prisoners received by U.S. Marshals Service in fiscal 2021.
Transportation Program Overview
The U.S. Marshals' Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System (JPATS) manages the coordination, scheduling and secure handling of prisoners in federal custody, transporting them to detention facilities, courts and correctional institutions via a network of aircraft, buses, vans and cars.
Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System supports the federal judiciary through its scheduling and transportation responsibilities. Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System transports sentenced prisoners who are in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons as well as to hearings, court appearances and detention facilities. Military and civilian law enforcement agencies use Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System to shuttle their prisoners between different jurisdictions at a fraction of what commercial sources would charge.
Did You Know?
- 205,926 prisoners received by U.S. Marshals Service in fiscal 2021.
- 92,158 prisoner moved by air.
- Approximately an average of 841 prisoner movements per day was done by JPATS.
- 113,768 prisoner moved by ground.