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Guide

Paroling to another state: the Interstate Compact (ICAOS)

How supervision moves to another state, who qualifies, how long it takes and what the receiving state checks.

Checked against the official ICAOS rules 2026-10-16. General information, not legal advice.

What it is

The Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision is an agreement among all 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It lets a person on parole or probation live in another state under supervision. The Commission (ICAOS) writes rules every member state must follow.[18]

The sending state is where the sentence is. The receiving state is where the person wants to live.

Mandatory vs. discretionary transfers

Mandatory (the receiving state must accept)

  • More than 90 days (or an indefinite period) of supervision left.[1]
  • A valid plan of supervision: home, job or means of support, and conditions.[1][2]
  • In substantial compliance with supervision.[1]
  • Is a resident of the receiving state (at least 1 year in a row before the sentence or supervision start), or has resident family there willing to help, and can get a job or has means of support.[1][2]
  • "Resident family" means a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, adult child, adult sibling, spouse, legal guardian or step-parent who has lived there 180 days or more.[2]
  • Military orders, required job transfers and veterans getting VA care can also qualify.[3]

Discretionary

  • If those tests are not met, the sending state can still ask, with documents that justify it. The receiving state decides and must give reasons if it says no.[4]

The sending state decides whether to submit a request at all.[1]

Step by step

  1. Application with the caseworker. The person signs the transfer application. Staff send it through the ICAOS electronic system with the offense, conditions, court debts and other details.[9]
  2. Timing. From prison, a request can be sent up to 120 days before the planned release.[5]
  3. Home investigation. The receiving state has up to 45 calendar days after it gets a complete request. If the plan is invalid, it rejects it with reasons.[6]
  4. Wait. The person may not travel to the receiving state until it replies, with some exceptions.[7]
  5. Reporting instructions. These say when and where to report. In some cases, such as people who already lived there when sentenced, they are issued before the final decision.[8]
  6. Arrive on time. If the person doesn't report by the 5th business day after the planned departure, the receiving state may withdraw its acceptance.[5]

What the receiving state checks

  • Residence: a physical address is required. A P.O. box is not accepted.[10]
  • Family and household members: ICAOS asks for correctly spelled names, and asks everyone to cooperate when officers call.[10]
  • Job or support: employer names and addresses.[10]
  • Weapons: the ICAOS rules have no single checklist. But federal law bars almost anyone with a felony conviction from having guns, so expect questions about weapons in the home.[17]
  • After accepting, the receiving state may set the same conditions it uses for its own cases. It may not set conditions before acceptance to block a transfer.[11]

Why a backup in-state address matters

If the other state rejects the plan or takes its full time, the person could wait in prison. A Nevada plan approved by NPP gives a second way out. The other state's acceptance does not set the release date; the sending state does.[5] See transitional housing and approved addresses.

Fees

  • The sending state may charge an application fee. The receiving state may charge a reasonable monthly supervision fee, no higher than it charges its own cases.[12]
  • Nevada: no application fee; $30 a month for supervision; GPS, if required, costs extra.[14]
  • Idaho: $100 application fee; $60 a month for supervision. Parole transfers also need a $500 bond to the Idaho Commission, $95 of it non-refundable.[15][16]

Violent and sex offenses

  • A person with a sex offense may not leave the sending state until the receiving state approves or issues reporting instructions. The request includes assessments and victim information.[13]
  • Every request includes the offense, no-contact orders, sex offender registry status and known gang ties.[9]
  • A violent offense does not by itself bar a mandatory transfer, but the receiving state reviews the plan and may set conditions after acceptance.[1][11]

Official offices

Nevada hearings, release and reentry · State rules · Answers

FAQ

Can someone on Nevada parole move to another state?

Yes, if the Interstate Compact rules are met and the other state accepts. The person cannot leave until the receiving state replies, except in a few cases with reporting instructions.

How long does an interstate compact transfer take?

The receiving state has up to 45 calendar days after it gets a complete request. A request can be sent up to 120 days before a planned release.

Does the other state have to accept?

Yes, for mandatory transfers: the person has more than 90 days of supervision left, a valid plan, is in substantial compliance, and is a resident or has resident family there with a job or means of support. Other cases are discretionary.

Is there a fee?

States may charge. The sending state may charge an application fee, and the receiving state may charge a monthly supervision fee no higher than it charges its own parolees.

Report an error on this page

Sources: ICAOS Rule 3.101: mandatory transfer · ICAOS Rule 1.101: definitions · ICAOS Rule 3.101-1: military, employment and veteran transfers · ICAOS Rule 3.101-2: discretionary transfer · ICAOS Rule 3.105: pre-release transfer requests · ICAOS Rule 3.104: 45-day investigation · Last verified: · Corrections