1-2016i - Supervised Individuals Returning to a Sending State

Mindy Spring

Updated December 17, 2025 15:06

Effective March 1, 2016

Updated: December 17, 2025

Re: Rules 3.101-1, 3.103, 3.103-2, 4.105, 4.111, 4.111-1, 5.101 & 5.103

Inconsistent practices exist when supervised individuals return to the sending state. Common issues include:

Failure to provide required notification when returns are initiated by either the sending or receiving state.
Use of Compact Action Requests instead of Return Reporting Instructions.
Use of Return Reporting Instructions for temporary travel (e.g., court appearances) when the intent is for the individual to return to the receiving state.
Failure to notify the sending state of departure and arrival as required by Rule 4.105.

These practices undermine Compact compliance and create confusion regarding supervisory authority.

Receiving states must request Return Reporting Instructions for any supervised individual who meets both of the following criteria:

The individual is subject to active supervision; and
The individual has successfully arrived in the receiving state (i.e., a Notice of Arrival was submitted and accepted).

A supervised individual may return to the sending state when:

The individual requests to return;
The individual arrived in the receiving state pursuant to approved reporting instructions, but the transfer request (plan of supervision) is later denied and no alternate plan exists; or
The sending state orders the individual to return in lieu of retaking for behavior that would otherwise require retaking.

Return Reporting Instructions are required for permanent returns to the sending state once supervision has been established. Rule 4.111
Travel permits are used for temporary returns to a sending state. Rule 4.111-1
Notification of departure and arrival is mandatory and must occur within required timeframes. Rule 4.105
Supervisory authority remains with the receiving state until the supervised individual departs.