---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 3623"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "3623"
heading: "Transfer of a prisoner to State authority"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/3623"
units:
  - "Part II — Criminal Procedure"
  - "Chapter 229 — Postsentence Administration"
  - "Subchapter C — Imprisonment"
---

# §3623. Transfer of a prisoner to State authority


The Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall order that a prisoner who has been charged in an indictment or information with, or convicted of, a [State](/usc/18/3077.md?p=5) [felony](/usc/18/3156.md?p=a-3), be transferred to an official detention facility within such [State](/usc/18/3077.md?p=5) prior to his release from a Federal prison facility if—

- (1) the transfer has been requested by the Governor or other executive authority of the [State](/usc/18/3077.md?p=5);
- (2) the [State](/usc/18/3077.md?p=5) has presented to the Director a certified copy of the indictment, information, or judgment of conviction; and
- (3) the Director finds that the transfer would be in the public interest.

If more than one request is presented with respect to a prisoner, the Director shall determine which request should receive preference. The expenses of such transfer shall be borne by the [State](/usc/18/3077.md?p=5) requesting the transfer.


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 212(a)(2), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2008.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

For a prior section 3623, applicable to offenses committed prior to Nov. 1, 1987, see note set out preceding section 3601 of this title.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Nov. 1, 1987, and applicable only to offenses committed after the taking effect of this section, see section 235(a)(1) of Pub. L. 98–473, set out as a note under section 3551 of this title.