Custody. To have custody of a prisoner, a state or the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) must physically hold that person in one of its facilities. A locality, state, or the BOP may hold inmates over whom a different government maintains jurisdiction. Custody count. The number of offenders in custody.To have custody of a prisoner, a state or the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) must physically hold that person in one of its facilities. A locality, state, or the BOP may have custody of a prisoner over whom a different government maintains jurisdiction.otal incarceration rate. The number of inmates held in the custody of state or federal prisons or in local jails, per 100,000 U.S. residents. Total inmates in custody count. To have custody of a prisoner, a state or the Federal Bureau of Prisons must hold that person in one of its facilities.