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What to do if…
you receive a notice requiring you to surrender to begin a sentence on a specific date

Short answer

Confirm the surrender instructions with an official source (your attorney and/or the issuing court), then arrive early with only essentials. Missing a court-ordered surrender may lead to a warrant and additional penalties.

Do not do these things

  • Do not ignore the notice or assume it can be rescheduled without the court’s permission.
  • Do not rely on phone numbers or links on a letter that seems off—verify using official court or agency contact details you look up independently.
  • Do not travel to a facility if you are not sure it’s the correct one.
  • Do not bring prohibited items or extra property you haven’t confirmed is allowed.
  • Do not post your surrender details online or share them widely.
  • Do not “wait and see” if you can’t make the date—act immediately.

What to do now

  1. Verify what system you’re in (federal vs state/local) and who is ordering the surrender.
    • If you have an attorney, contact them first and ask them to confirm the surrender date, place, and authority.
    • If you do not have an attorney, contact the clerk of the sentencing court using the court’s official website/phone listing and ask how to verify your surrender instructions.
  2. Confirm the exact reporting instructions (write them down).
    • Confirm: date, time, exact address/entrance, required ID, and whether you must report to:
      • a U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) office (common in federal cases), or
      • a specific Bureau of Prisons (BOP) institution (federal), or
      • a county jail/sheriff intake (state/local), or
      • another named facility.
    • If you are directed to a BOP institution, use the official BOP institution listing to find the correct contact information and confirm intake details.
  3. If you cannot make the surrender date for a serious reason, don’t just miss it.
    • Contact your attorney or the sentencing court immediately to ask what the court requires.
    • Keep documentation (e.g., ER/hospital records) and follow any supervision instructions you have (pretrial/probation) if applicable.
  4. Prepare the minimum paperwork and essentials.
    • Bring: government-issued photo ID, your judgment/commitment or surrender letter, and any designation information you were given.
    • Write key phone numbers and addresses on paper.
    • Medications: bring a printed medication list (name, dose, prescriber, pharmacy) and, if available, prescription labels/packaging. Many facilities do not allow you to keep personal medications you bring—declare them at intake so medical staff can continue or re-issue them.
  5. Protect immediate responsibilities (only what must be done today).
    • Arrange childcare/pet care for at least the next few days.
    • Secure your home and valuables; set urgent payments to auto-pay if you can do it quickly.
    • Choose one trusted person to hold important documents and be your point of contact.
  6. Plan to arrive early and reduce avoidable problems.
    • Build in extra time for travel delays and intake processing.
    • Bring as little property as possible; items you bring will be searched, recorded, and stored per facility rules.

What can wait

  • You do not need to solve everything about custody classification, programming, commissary, or long-term finances right now.
  • You do not need to make irreversible decisions (selling a car, breaking a lease) in the first panic hours unless a deadline forces it.
  • You do not need to contact everyone—limit communication to essentials and one support person.

Important reassurance

A surrender notice can make it feel like you have to fix your whole life immediately. You don’t. The stabilizing step is to verify the instructions through official channels and follow them exactly—this prevents the fastest, most damaging escalation.

Scope note

This is first-step guidance for the period right after you receive a surrender notice. Details vary widely by state and by federal vs local custody, and by facility.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. Facility intake rules and court practices vary. If anything is unclear, time-sensitive, or looks suspicious, verify directly with your attorney and/or the issuing court or agency using official contact information.

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