Jeanna's Act
PL 106-560 (S.1898), enacted 12/21/2000

114 STAT. 2784 
PUBLIC LAW 106-560—DEC. 21, 2000 
Public Law 106-560 
106th Congress 
An Act 
Dec. 21, 2000 
[S. 1898] 
Interstate 
Transportation of 
Dangerous 
Criminals Act of 
2000. 
42 u s e 13701 
note. 
42 u s e 13726. 
42 u s e 13726a. 
To provide protection against the risks to the public that are inherent in the 
interstate transportation of violent prisoners. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the "Interstate Transportation of 
Dangerous Criminals Act of 2000" or "Jeanna's Act". 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Increasingly, States are turning to private prisoner 
transport companies as an alternative to their own personnel 
or the United States Marshals Service when transporting vio-
lent prisoners. 
(2) The transport process can last for days if not weeks, 
as violent prisoners are dropped off and picked up at a network 
of hubs across the country. 
(3) Escapes by violent prisoners during transport by private 
prisoner transport companies have occurred. 
(4) Oversight by the Attorney General is required to 
address these problems. 
(5) While most governmental entities may prefer to use, 
and will continue to use, fully trained and sworn law enforce-
ment officers when transporting violent prisoners, fiscal or 
logistical concerns may make the use of highly specialized 
private prisoner transport companies an option. Nothing in 
this Act should be construed to mean that governmental entities 
should contract with private prisoner transport companies to 
move violent prisoners; however when a government entity 
opts to use a private prisoner transport company to move 
violent prisoners, then the company should be subject to regula-
tion in order to enhance public safety. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) CRIME OF VIOLENCE.—^The term "crime of violence" has 
the same meaning as in section 924(c)(3) of title 18, United 
States Code. 
(2) PRIVATE PRISONER TRANSPORT COMPANY.—^The term 
"private prisoner transport company" means any entity, other 
than the United States, a State, or an inferior political subdivi-
sion of a State, which engages in the business of the trans-
porting for compensation, individuals committed to the custody 
PUBLIC LAW 106-560—DEC. 21, 2000 
114 STAT. 2785 
of any State or of an inferior political subdivision of a State, 
or any attempt thereof. 
(3) VIOLENT PRISONER.—The term "violent prisoner" means 
any individual in the custody of a State or an inferior political 
subdivision of a State who has previously been convicted of 
or is currently charged with a crime of violence or any similar 
statute of a State or the inferior political subdivisions of a 
State, or any attempt thereof. 
SEC. 4. FEDERAL REGULATION OF PRISONER TRANSPORT COMPANIES. 
42 USC 13726b. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of Deadline, 
enactment of this Act, the Attorney General, in consultation with 
the American Correctional Association and the private prisoner 
transport industry, shall promulgate regulations relating to the 
transportation of violent prisoners in or affecting interstate com-
merce. 
(b) STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS.—^The regulations shall 
include the following: 
(1) Minimum standards for background checks and pre-
emplojrment drug testing for potential employees, including 
requiring criminal background checks, to disqualify persons 
with a felony conviction or domestic violence conviction as 
defined by section 921 of title 18, United States Code, for 
eligibility for employment. Preemployment drug testing will 
be in accordance with applicable State laws. 
(2) Minimum standards for the length and type of training 
that employees must undergo before they can transport pris-
oners not to exceed 100 hours of preservice training focusing 
on the transportation of prisoners. Training shall be in the 
areas of use of restraints, searches, use of force, including 
use of appropriate weapons and firearms, CPR, map reading, 
and defensive driving. 
(3) Restrictions on the number of hours that employees 
can be on duty during a given time period. Such restriction 
shall not be more stringent than current applicable rules and 
regulations concerning hours of service promulgated under the 
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Act. 
(4) Minimum standards for the number of personnel that 
must supervise violent prisoners. Such standards shall provide 
the transport entity with appropriate discretion, and, absent 
more restrictive requirements contracted for by the procuring 
government entity, shall not exceed a requirement of 1 agent 
for every 6 violent prisoners. 
(5) Minimum standards for employee uniforms and identi-
fication that require wearing of a uniform with a badge or 
insignia identifying the employee as a transportation officer. 
(6) Standards establishing categories of violent prisoners 
required to wear brightly colored clothing clearly identifying 
them as prisoners, when appropriate. 
(7) Minimum requirements for the restraints that must 
be used when transporting violent prisoners, to include leg 
shackles and double-locked handcuffs, when appropriate. 
(8) A requirement that when transporting violent prisoners, 
private prisoner transport companies notify local law enforce-
ment officials 24 hours in advance of any scheduled stops 
in their jurisdiction. 
114 STAT. 2786 
PUBLIC LAW 106-560—DEC. 21, 2000 
(9) A requirement that in the event of an escape by a 
violent prisoner, private prisoner transport company officials 
shall immediately notify appropriate law enforcement officials 
in the jurisdiction where the escape occurs, and the govern-
mental entity that contracted with the private prisoner trans-
port company for the transport of the escaped violent prisoner. 
(10) Minimum standards for the safety of violent prisoners 
in accordance with applicable Federal and State law. 
(c) FEDERAL STANDARDS.—Except for the requirements of sub-
section (b)(6), the regulations promulgated under this Act shall 
not provide stricter standards with respect to private prisoner trans-
port companies than are applicable, without exception, to the United 
States Marshals Service, Federal Bureau of Prisons, and the 
Immigration and Naturalization Service when transporting violent 
prisoners under comparable circumstances. 
42 u s e 13726c. 
SEC. 5. ENFORCEMENT. 
Any person who is found in violation of the regulations estab-
lished by this Act shall— 
(1) be liable to the United States for a civil penalty in 
an amount not to exceed $10,000 for each violation and, in 
addition, to the United States for the costs of prosecution; 
and 
(2) make restitution to any entity of the United States, 
of a State, or of an inferior political subdivision of a State, 
which expends funds for the purpose of apprehending any vio-
lent prisoner who escapes from a prisoner transport company 
as the result, in whole or in part, of a violation of regulations 
promulgated pursuant to section 4(a). 
Approved December 21, 2000. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 1898: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 146 (2000): 
Oct. 25, considered and passed Senate. 
Dec. 7, considered and passed House.