It serves 40 cities, and is used to move prisoners more economically and with higher security than commercial airlines. Moving thousands of prisoners and criminal aliens each year requires extra security precautions and careful coordination. Deputy Marshals, Aviation Enforcement Officers and Aviation Safety Officers are stationed throughout the aircraft, and prisoners wear handcuffs and leg irons in the close confines of the aircraft cabin. Ground security is provided by Deputy Marshals, BOP guards or INS officers at each airport transfer point. If prisoners cannot be moved in one day, they are housed overnight at various BOP facilities.
Careful scheduling is required to ensure that each prisoner appears in court at the designated time.
In an effort to assist state and local law enforcement agencies, the Marshals Service transports non-federal prisoners between different jurisdictions when space is available on its aircraft. For example, a fugitive wanted for trial in one locale may have been apprehended in another, distant jurisdiction. However, local authorities are often reluctant to seek extradition of felons because of high transportation and personnel costs. The Marshals Service offers state and local law enforcement agencies a safe and effective prisoner transportation system at about one-quarter of the normal cost. The Marshals Service relies on state and local jails as well as BOP detention facilities to provide medical care inside the facilities.