The International Prisoner Transfer Program began in 1977 when our government negotiated the first in a series of treaties to permit the transfer of prisoners from countries in which they had been convicted of crimes to their home countries. The program is designed to relieve some of the special hardships that fall upon offenders incarcerated far from home, and to facilitate the rehabilitation of these offenders. Prisoners may be transferred to and from those countries with which the United States has a treaty. (Participating countries are listed on this site). While all prisoner transfer treaties are negotiated principally by the United States Department of State, the program itself is administered by the United States Department of Justice.

More Information

For additional information or questions about the International Prisoner Transfer Program, contact the International Prisoner Transfer Unit at the Department of Justice.

Paula A. Wolff, Chief
U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division
OEO, International Prisoner Transfer Program
JCK Building, 10th Floor
Washington, DC 20530

Telephone:  (202) 514-3173      Fax:  (202) 514-9003

For information on the Federal Bureau of Prisons' Program Statement on International Prisoner Transfer, visit http://www.bop.gov/

For information from the U.S. Department of State regarding information on Americans Incarcerated Abroad, visit: http://travel.state.gov/law/law_1734.html

For information on the Federal Bureau of Prison's policy on International Prisoner Transfer

1. click on "Policy/Forms" at the top of http://www.bop.gov/
2. click on "Find a Policy" on the left side
3. under Program Statement (Policy) go to
4. Inmate and Custody Management and Browse Series 5000
5. find Number 5140.40 | Transfer of Offenders to or from Foreign Countries 08/04/2011