Diesel Therapy: The Cruelty of the Federal Transport System

 If you ask a federal prisoner what they fear most, they might not say "the hole" or "the gangs." They might say "being in transit." The U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Prisons operate a massive transportation network known as JPATS (Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System), but inmates call it "Diesel Therapy." It involves shackling inmates, putting them on buses or planes, and moving them across the country in a process that can take weeks or even months to cover a few hundred miles. In the personal accounts associated with prison reform hassan nemazee, the sheer physical and mental toll of this transport system stands out as a unique form of systemic abuse.

Unlike a civilian flight where you go from Point A to Point B in hours, a prisoner transfer involves an endless circuit of county jails and transfer centers. An inmate moving from New York to Florida might spend weeks sitting in a holdover cell in Oklahoma City, with no access to their property, no ability to call their family, and no idea when they will move next.

The "Black Box" and Physical Pain

During transport, inmates are fully restrained: handcuffs, waist chains, and leg irons. A device called a "black box" is often placed over the handcuffs to rigidify the wrists, making it impossible to move the hands independently.

Inmates are forced to sit in these restraints for 12 to 15 hours at a time on buses with no bathroom breaks, or limited ones. The physical pain is excruciating. Circulation is cut off; muscles cramp. The inability to use the bathroom with dignity is a common humiliation. For older inmates or those with medical conditions, these trips are physically dangerous, often leading to injuries that go untreated until they reach the final destination weeks later.

Lost in the System

When an inmate is "in transit," they effectively disappear. They drop off the grid. Their email accounts are deactivated, and they cannot make phone calls. Families are left in a state of panic, not knowing where their loved one is or if they are safe.

Property is another casualty. An inmate’s personal belongings—legal papers, family photos, books—are boxed up and shipped separately. It is notoriously common for this property to be lost, stolen, or destroyed during transit. Imagine arriving at a new prison after a month of travel, only to find that everything you own in the world has vanished. The psychological impact of this erasure is profound.

The Health Risk of Transfer Centers

The "hub" facilities where inmates stay between legs of the journey are often the worst in the system. They are transient warehouses. Because inmates are only there for a short time, the staff often neglect basic needs.

Hygiene is non-existent. Inmates might wear the same clothes for weeks. Access to medication is spotty at best. During the transport, prescriptions are often interrupted, which can be catastrophic for those with heart conditions, diabetes, or HIV. The transfer system functions as a vector for disease and a disruptor of medical continuity.

Punitive Transfers

"Diesel Therapy" got its name because it is often used as a punishment. If an inmate is considered a "troublemaker" (often meaning they file grievances or know their rights), the administration can transfer them.

Spending weeks in shackles, bouncing from jail to jail, is a way to break a person's spirit without technically violating policy. It is a retaliatory tactic that uses the bureaucracy of logistics as a weapon. Reformers call for strict time limits on transfers and real-time tracking so families can know where their loved ones are.

Conclusion

The transport system is a black hole of accountability. It treats humans like cargo, with zero regard for their physical safety or dignity. Civilizing this process is a low-hanging fruit for reform that would immediately reduce suffering.

Call to Action

To read more about the hidden mechanisms of the federal prison system and the need for oversight, visit:

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