The Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision (Interstate Compact) is an agreement permitting supervision of probationers and parolees across state lines. The Compact 

allows the transfer of adult offenders 

in the United States while ensuring 

cooperative efforts and mutual assistance to prevent crime and to rehabilitate offenders. Offenders under 

Interstate Compact supervision make 

up approximately three percent of the 

nation’s probation and parole population. 

 The Interstate Compact was 

preceded by the Interstate 

Compact for the Supervision of 

Adult Offenders which arose 

following the enactment by 

Congress of the Uniform Enabling Act of 1937. The Act provides that a state “may enter 

into a compact with any of the 

United States for the mutual 

helpfulness in relation to persons convicted of crimes or 

offenses who may be on probation or parole.” It was the first 

compact enacted by all fifty 

states, the District of Columbia, the 

Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Compacts are viewed as contracts between states; however, they also 

have the supremacy granted federal 

law, taking precedence over conflicting state laws. 

 

 Prior to enactment of the first Compact, offenders could not leave the 

state in which their conviction occurred; or, in certain cases they were 

subject to release conditions which 

required that they leave the jurisdiction never to return. There was no 

thought given to their supervision 

when relocating to other jurisdictions. 

The primary purpose of the Interstate 

Compact was to prevent such situations. 

 The Interstate Compact is a highly 

effective tool in promoting the safety 

of the public through the control of 

offenders’ movement between 

states. It recognizes legitimate needs 

of certain offenders who meet eligibilMay 2004 INTERSTATE COMPACT 

Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency 

for the District of Columbia 

633 Indiana Avenue, NW 

Washington, DC 20004 

CSOSA FACT SHEET 

Did You Know? 

• Offenders under Interstate 

Compact supervision make 

up approximately three 

percent of the nation’s 

probation and parole population. 

• The Interstate Compact for 

the Supervision of Adult 

Offenders (established in 

1937) was the first compact 

enacted by all fifty states, 

the District of Columbia, 

the Virgin Islands and 

Puerto Rico. 

• DC Code offenders who are 

granted parole by the USPC 

to reside in other jurisdictions are supervised by the 

Federal Probation Office. 

• Generally, the sending state 

determines the duration of 

supervision; the receiving 

state determines the degree 

of supervision. 

• The Interstate Compact for 

Adult Offender Supervision 

has been in effect since 

June 2002 when adopted by 

47 states. The new compact 

aims to improve offender 

accountability and increase 

cooperation among signatories 

For additional information, contact the CSOSA Office of Legislative, 

Intergovernmental and Public Affairs at (202) 220-5333. 

www.csosa.gov 

ity criteria to relocate to another state 

to improve their chances for successful rehabilitation. It also ensures public safety by recognizing the needs of 

both the sending and receiving states 

to continue their supervision of offenders. 

 The National Capital Revitalization 

and Self—Government Improvement 

Act of 1997 transferred parole grant 

jurisdiction from the DC Board of Parole to the United States Parole Commission (USPC) in August 2000. Since 

that time, DC Code offenders who are 

granted parole by the USPC to reside 

in other jurisdictions are supervised by 

Federal Probation who report violations directly to the USPC. DC probationers who live in other states, and 

probationers and parolees from other 

states who live in DC, are still provided 

supervision under the Interstate Compact. 

 Paul A. Quander, Jr, Director of 

CSOSA, serves as the Interstate Commissioner and Compact Administrator 

for the District and is responsible for 

ensuring efficient communication to 

report violations and supervision compliance to other state Compact offices 

and coordinates with the Superior 

Court with regard to DC probationers 

who receive the benefit of supervision 

transfer to other jurisdictions. The 

Director also communicates with other 

Commissioners to resolve issues between states. Catherine Terry-Crusor 

of CSOSA serves as the Deputy Compact Administer 

 The Interstate Compact Branch of 

CSOSA is divided into units—

Investigative and Supervision. 

 The Investigative Unit consists of 

three teams. They work with receiving states to process transfers for 

cases on offenders whose offenses 

originated in the District of Columbia but who are ultimately supervised in another jurisdiction. Investigations for offenders requesting 

supervision transfer into the District 

are conducted in the diagnostic 

Branch by the TIPS teams. Acceptance of such requests is contingent upon offenders meeting 

Compact eligibility requirements. 

 

 Two supervision teams provide a 

full range of case management 

services to adult offenders who 

are supervised in the District but 

who were convicted in other jurisdictions. These offenders are held 

accountable to the same standards which prevail for all offenders under CSOSA’s supervision. 

Supervision Officers prepare and 

submit reports to the sending 

state for every offender under Interstate Compact supervision. 

 Offenders must meet certain 

criteria before they are recommended for supervision in the District of Columbia or any other jurisdiction in the United States. The 

sending state determines the 

length of supervision; the receiving 

state determines the level of supervision. The sending state may permit an offender to reside in any 

other state, if such person is in fact 

a resident of the receiving state as 

defined by the Compact and has a 

visible means of support, or if the 

receiving state consents to the offender residing in that jurisdiction. 

 The Interstate Compact for Adult 

Offender Supervision has been in 

effect since June 2002 when it was 

adopted by 47 states. The new 

compact aims to improve offender 

accountability and increase cooperation among signatories.