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US Prisons Leave Driving to Greyhound

Convicts unescorted in transfers; feds say there's little risk

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 28, 2009 2:31 PM CDT

(Newser) – Federal convicts regularly transfer themselves between prisons unescorted, riding public transportation without a guard in sight, WFAA-TV reports. Some 5,300 have switched prisons on their own since April 2006; 54,000 have headed to halfway houses. And in 2003-05, 77 escaped while en route. “It’s an inherent safety and security risk for the industry as a whole,” says a Greyhound spokeswoman.

The Bureau of Prisons notes that such transfers are for minimum-security cases. “Inmates assigned to either camps or halfway houses do not present a significant risk to the community,” said a rep, noting “substantial” savings. Adds one senator, “We don’t want our bus system to turn into Con Air, but you would think there would be some safety measures that could be put into place here.”

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Holiday travelers line up to board at the Greyhound Bus Station, Nov. 21, 2007, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo)

Many convicts escort themselves between prisons. (Shutterstock)

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To transfer these types of inmates using BOP staff or US Marshals services or contract services would result in a large, unnecessary cost to the government and ultimately the taxpayer. - Traci Billingsley, Bureau of Prisons

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US Prisons Leave Driving to Greyhound