Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-110

§4013 Support of United States Prisoners in Non-federal Institutions

Title 18 › PART III — PRISONS AND PRISONERS › CHAPTER 301 — GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 4013

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Attorney General can pay for certain needs when federal prisoners are kept in state, local, or private jails. Payments can cover necessary clothing, medical care and any needed guards, and the housing, care, and security of people held by a U.S. marshal under agreements with states, local governments, or private contractors. The Attorney General can also use law‑enforcement assistance money to help a state or local government build, fix up, or buy equipment for jails that agree to guarantee bed space for federal detainees. Those payments must follow regulations like those under section 4006, cannot be more than the average per‑inmate cost to build similar federal facilities, must keep the facility available for federal prisoners, and the daily rate charged cannot exceed allowable costs or what the contract says. The U.S. Marshals Service can pick districts that need extra private jail space based on how many federal detainees there are and what facilities exist. A private jail must be in a designated district, meet American Correctional Association standards, obey state and local laws, have approved fire/security/escape/riot plans, and follow any other Marshals rules to win a contract. The Marshals must allow public comment on such contracts. States or local governments may charge a reasonable health‑care fee from a federal prisoner’s trust account when the prisoner is held under an agreement, only if state law allows it, the fee is no higher than what local prisoners pay, the care is given by a licensed provider and counts as a “health care visit” under section 4048(a)(4), and the services are not preventive care, emergency care, prenatal care, chronic infectious‑disease care, mental‑health care, or substance abuse treatment. No one may be denied care for lack of money. Prisoners must get written and oral notice, and fees or new fee plans cannot be charged until 30 days after all prisoners have been notified. States or localities that charge fees must provide full HIV/AIDS services when medically needed and cannot charge a fee for that coverage.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §4013

Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Attorney General, in support of United States prisoners in non-Federal institutions, is authorized to make payments from funds appropriated for Federal prisoner detention for—
(1)necessary clothing;
(2)medical care and necessary guard hire; and
(3)the housing, care, and security of persons held in custody of a United States marshal pursuant to Federal law under agreements with State or local units of government or contracts with private entities.
(b)The Attorney General, in support of Federal prisoner detainees in non-Federal institutions, is authorized to make payments, from funds appropriated for State and local law enforcement assistance, for entering into contracts or cooperative agreements with any State, territory, or political subdivision thereof, for the necessary construction, physical renovation, acquisition of equipment, supplies, or materials required to establish acceptable conditions of confinement and detention services in any State or local jurisdiction which agrees to provide guaranteed bed space for Federal detainees within that correctional system, in accordance with regulations which are issued by the Attorney General and are comparable to the regulations issued under section 4006 of this title, except that—
(1)amounts made available for purposes of this paragraph shall not exceed the average per-inmate cost of constructing similar confinement facilities for the Federal prison population,
(2)the availability of such federally assisted facility shall be assured for housing Federal prisoners, and
(3)the per diem rate charged for housing such Federal prisoners shall not exceed allowable costs or other conditions specified in the contract or cooperative agreement.
(c)(1)The United States Marshals Service may designate districts that need additional support from private detention entities under subsection (a)(3) based on—
(A)the number of Federal detainees in the district; and
(B)the availability of appropriate Federal, State, and local government detention facilities.
(2)In order to be eligible for a contract for the housing, care, and security of persons held in custody of the United States Marshals pursuant to Federal law and funding under subsection (a)(3), a private entity shall—
(A)be located in a district that has been designated as needing additional Federal detention facilities pursuant to paragraph (1);
(B)meet the standards of the American Correctional Association;
(C)comply with all applicable State and local laws and regulations;
(D)have approved fire, security, escape, and riot plans; and
(E)comply with any other regulations that the Marshals Service deems appropriate.
(3)The United States Marshals Service shall provide an opportunity for public comment on a contract under subsection (a)(3).
(d)Health Care Fees For Federal Prisoners in Non-Federal Institutions.—
(1)In general.—
Notwithstanding amounts paid under subsection (a)(3), a State or local government may assess and collect a reasonable fee from the trust fund account (or institutional equivalent) of a Federal prisoner for health care services, if—
(A)the prisoner is confined in a non-Federal institution pursuant to an agreement between the Federal Government and the State or local government;
(B)the fee—
(i)is authorized under State law; and
(ii)does not exceed the amount collected from State or local prisoners for the same services; and
(C)the services—
(i)are provided within or outside of the institution by a person who is licensed or certified under State law to provide health care services and who is operating within the scope of such license;
(ii)constitute a health care visit within the meaning of section 4048(a)(4) of this title; and
(iii)are not preventative health care services, emergency services, prenatal care, diagnosis or treatment of chronic infectious diseases, mental health care, or substance abuse treatment.
(2)No refusal of treatment for financial reasons.—
Nothing in this subsection may be construed to permit any refusal of treatment to a prisoner on the basis that—
(A)the account of the prisoner is insolvent; or
(B)the prisoner is otherwise unable to pay a fee assessed under this subsection.
(3)Notice to prisoners of law.—
Each person who is or becomes a prisoner shall be provided with written and oral notices of the provisions of this subsection and the applicability of this subsection to the prisoner. Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, a fee under this section may not be assessed against, or collected from, such person—
(A)until the expiration of the 30-day period beginning on the date on which each prisoner in the prison system is provided with such notices; and
(B)for services provided before the expiration of such period.
(4)Notice to prisoners of state or local implementation.—
The implementation of this subsection by the State or local government, and any amendment to that implementation, shall not take effect until the expiration of the 30-day period beginning on the date on which each prisoner in the prison system is provided with written and oral notices of the provisions of that implementation (or amendment, as the case may be). A fee under this subsection may not be assessed against, or collected from, a prisoner pursuant to such implementation (or amendments, as the case may be) for services provided before the expiration of such period.
(5)Notice before public comment period.—
Before the beginning of any period a proposed implementation under this subsection is open to public comment, written and oral notice of the provisions of that proposed implementation shall be provided to groups that advocate on behalf of Federal prisoners and to each prisoner subject to such proposed implementation.
(6)Comprehensive hiv/aids services required.—
Any State or local government assessing or collecting a fee under this subsection shall provide comprehensive coverage for services relating to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) to each Federal prisoner in the custody of such State or local government when medically appropriate. The State or local government may not assess or collect a fee under this subsection for providing such coverage.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2002—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–273, § 302(2)(A), in introductory provisions, substituted “Federal prisoner detention” for “the support of United States prisoners”, inserted “and” at end of par. (2), substituted period for “; and” at end of par. (3), and in introductory provisions of par. (4), inserted “The Attorney General, in support of Federal prisoner detainees in non-Federal institutions, is authorized to make payments, from funds appropriated for State and local law

Enforcement

assistance, for” before “entering”. Subsecs. (a)(4), (b). Pub. L. 107–273, § 302(2)(B)(ii), redesignated par. (4) of subsec. (a) as subsec. (b) and subpars. (A) to (C) as pars. (1) to (3), respectively. Former subsec. (b) redesignated (c). Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 107–273, § 302(2)(B)(i), redesignated subsecs. (b) and (c) as (c) and (d), respectively. 2000—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 106–294 added subsec. (c). 1994—Pub. L. 103–322, § 330011(o), repealed Pub. L. 101–647, § 3599. See 1990 Amendment note below. 1990—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–647, § 3599, which struck out “(a)” at beginning of text, was repealed by Pub. L. 103–322, § 330011(o). Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–647, § 1701, added subsec. (b).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1994 Amendment Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330011(o), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2145, provided that the amendment made by section 330011(o) is effective Nov. 29, 1990. Contracts for Space or Facilities Pub. L. 106–553, § 1(a)(2) [title I, § 118, formerly § 119], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2762, 2762A–69; renumbered § 118, Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(4) [div. A, § 213(a)(2)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–179, provided that: “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including section 4(d) of the Service Contract Act of 1965 ([former] 41 U.S.C. 353(d)) [now 41 U.S.C. 6707(d)], the Attorney General hereafter may enter into contracts and other agreements, of any reasonable duration, for detention or incarceration space or facilities, including related services, on any reasonable basis.” Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System Fund, United States Marshals Service Pub. L. 106–553, § 1(a)(2) [title I], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2762, 2762A–55, provided in part that: “Beginning in fiscal year 2000 and thereafter, payment shall be made from the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System Fund for necessary expenses related to the scheduling and transportation of United States prisoners and illegal and criminal aliens in the custody of the United States Marshals Service, as authorized in 18 U.S.C. 4013, including, without limitation, salaries and expenses, operations, and the acquisition, lease, and maintenance of aircraft and support facilities: Provided, That the Fund shall be reimbursed or credited with advance payments from amounts available to the Department of Justice, other Federal agencies, and other sources at rates that will recover the expenses of Fund operations, including, without limitation, accrual of annual leave and depreciation of plant and equipment of the Fund: Provided further, That proceeds from the disposal of Fund aircraft shall be credited to the Fund: Provided further, That amounts in the Fund shall be available without fiscal year limitation, and may be used for operating equipment lease agreements that do not exceed 10 years.” Similar provisions were contained in the following prior appropriations act: Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(1) [title I], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1535, 1501A–7. Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(b) [title I], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–50, 2681–54, provided that: “There is hereby established a Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System Fund for the payment of necessary expenses related to the scheduling and transportation of United States prisoners and illegal and criminal aliens in the custody of the United States Marshals Service, as authorized in 18 U.S.C. 4013, including, without limitation, salaries and expenses, operations, and the acquisition, lease, and maintenance of aircraft and support facilities: Provided, That the Fund shall be reimbursed or credited with advance payments from amounts available to the Department of Justice, other Federal agencies, and other sources at rates that will recover the expenses of Fund operations, including, without limitation, accrual of annual leave and depreciation of plant and equipment of the Fund: Provided further, That proceeds from the disposal of Fund aircraft shall be credited to the Fund: Provided further, That amounts in the Fund shall be available without fiscal year limitation, and may be used for operating equipment lease agreements that do not exceed 5 years.”

Executive Documents

Executive Order No. 14006 Ex. Ord. No. 14006, Jan. 26, 2021, 86 F.R. 7483, reforming United States incarceration system to eliminate the use of privately operated criminal detention facilities, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 14148, § 2(q), Jan. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 8238.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 4013

Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110