Interstate Compact Overview
The Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision (ICAOS) was created to promote cooperation and coordination among the states and U.S. Territories in the transfer of supervised offenders across state boundaries. The ICAOS provides oversight and assistance in administering the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision, which was approved in 2002. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are signatories to ICAOS. This Compact has the authority of federal law and supersedes any state law to the contrary. All state and federal courts and administrative bodies must abide by the rules of this compact. No court or paroling authority may authorize an offender to relocate before acceptance by the receiving state.
The mission of the Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision (ICAOS) is to help protect the public and provide offenders with their best possible opportunity for success. Visit the Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision (ICAOS) website, and the Interstate Compact Offender Tracking System (ICOTS) Public Portal, which provides offenders, their families, and friends with helpful information and resources.
For additional information regarding Interstate Transfers, refer to Administrative Regulation 1300-01 Interstate Transfer of Parole Supervision to Compact States, which may be accessed on our Department Policies page.
Commissioner
Andrew Zavaras
Phone: (303) 763-2420 | Email: andrew.zavaras@state.co.us
Deputy Compact Administrator
Collin Hocker
Phone: (303) 763-2420 | Email: collin.hocker@state.co.us
Interstate Compact Office
940 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203
Phone: (303) 763-2420 | Email: doc_interstateparole@state.co.us
The Interstate Compact for Adult Supervision (ICAOS) is the only legal mechanism in the country for the interstate transfer of the parole supervision of an adult offender. It is the purpose of ICAOS to promote public safety and protect the rights of victims through the control and regulation of the interstate movement of offenders in the community. In addition, ICAOS provides for the effective tracking, supervision and rehabilitation of these offenders through effective coordination between the sending and receiving states.
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Who is eligible for transfer under the Interstate Compact?
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At the discretion of the Sending State, an offender shall be eligible for transfer of supervision to a Receiving State under the Compact, and the Receiving State will accept the transfer if the offender:
Has three (3) months or more remaining on supervision; AND
Is in substantial compliance in the Sending State; AND
Is a resident of the Receiving State OR has resident family in the Receiving State willing and able to assist OR the offender is an active military member who has been deployed to another state OR is a veteran eligible and referred by the Veterans' Health Administration to another state for medical and/or mental health service OR is an offender who will live with an active military family member who has been transferred to another state by their full time employer as a condition of maintaining employment OR the offender is transferred to another state by their full time employer as a condition of maintaining employment; AND
Has a valid plan of supervision in the Receiving State with a visible means of support (employment, family, SSD/SSI, Workman's Compensation, etc.); AND
The transferring offense has a conviction for a felony, eligible misdemeanor or eligible deferred sentence; AND is required to report or be monitored by the supervising authorities OR has any condition (other than monetary), qualification, special condition or requirement imposed. (Offenders sentenced to non-reporting/unsupervised terms of probation with special or standard conditions will still need to be transferred through the Compact).
Requests that do not meet the above criteria are considered discretionary and can still be submitted; however, they must be accompanied by compelling reasons and documentation as to the merit of the transfer. The Receiving State shall have the discretion to accept or reject the transfer of supervision in a manner consistent with the purpose of the Compact.
Interstate Compact rules allow a Receiving State to impose additional conditions of supervision. A Receiving State shall supervise an offender transferred under the Interstate Compact in a manner determined by the Receiving State and consistent with the supervision of other similar offenders sentenced in the Receiving State.
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How does an offender apply for a transfer to another state?
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An offender currently under parole supervision or within 120 days of parole supervision who wishes to transfer their supervision to another state must first discuss their request with the Community Parole Officer (CPO) or Case Manager. The CPO or Case Manager will review the offender's plan to ensure it meets criteria for transfer as specified in the Compact Rules, and verify the offender is in substantial compliance with conditions of supervision.
If the offender is in substantial compliance and the offender's plan meets criteria for transfer, the CPO or Case Manager will have the offender sign the required forms and submit a transfer request to the Interstate Compact office. The transfer request will then be sent to the other state for investigation and a decision on acceptance or rejection.
For additional information regarding Interstate Transfers, refer to Administrative Regulation 1300-01, Interstate Transfer of Parole Supervision to Compact States.
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How can I find out if someone is under Interstate Compact Supervision?
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The Interstate Compact Offender Tracking System (ICOTS) Public Portal allows the public to search for information about offenders who have transferred supervision to another state or are in another state with permission while the transfer of supervision is under consideration. The portal allows some of the information contained in ICOTS to be available to the general public.
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Who qualifies as a resident or a resident family?
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For the purposes of the compact, an offender may be considered a Resident if they have continuously inhabited a state for at least one year prior to the commission of the offense for which the offender is under supervision, and intends that such place shall be the person's principal place of residence, and has not, unless incarcerated, remained in another state or states for a continuous period of six months or more with the intent to establish a new principal place of residence.
This is a strict definition; being born and raised or having lived in a state for a long time does not qualify an applicant.
To qualify as Resident Family, the family member must be a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, adult child, adult sibling, spouse, legal guardian, or step-parent who (1) has resided in the receiving state for 180 days or longer as of the date of the transfer request, and (2) indicates a willingness and ability to assist the offender as specified in the plan of supervision.
Girlfriends, boyfriends, common-law spouses, in-laws, fiancées, friends, employers, etc., are not acceptable Resident Family under the Interstate Compact.
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How long does the Interstate Compact transfer take?
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The transfer process usually takes forty-five (45) days from the date the application for transfer is received by the other state.
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Does an offender have to stay in Colorado while waiting for the other state to respond to their transfer request?
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Yes. An offender who does not qualify for reporting instructions must remain in Colorado until the Receiving State notifies Colorado of acceptance of the case and provides reporting instructions.
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Can an offender transfer supervision under the Interstate Compact to another country?
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No. The Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision contains no provisions for transferring supervision to other countries. The Bureau of Interstate Compact does not process such transfers.