I know he's a non-violent offender, but is this really how they would move a prisoner? On public transportation? Greyhound, train, walking the streets, sleeping in hotels? Seems crazy. Is this how it was done? If so, why? Why not just drive them in a Navy van or something?
shareNot so crazy. Regulations and procedures change over time; this movie reflects how it might have been done in 1973. To this day, US Army regs outline that either trained correctional personnel or non-correctional personnel may be be used. There are formulas for number and nature of escort with respect to max/med/min level of prisoner.
The somewhat circuitous nature of their travel in this case is convenient to the script. A more efficient means of transport even in 1973 would've been by air, with naval vehicles providing the connections on either end. Five days travel time to get from Norfolk to Portsmouth seems overly long.
Portsmouth hasn't been used for naval prisoners for quite some time. I believe any receiving a sentence of over five years now go to Fort Leavenworth, Kans., run by the army. They take prisoners from all the services for the longer sentences.
My own experience includes escorting a military prisoner once. As a soldier, I wasn't trained in corrections. I was told to check out a rifle and take a unit pre-trial prisoner to the US Consulate in Saigon. I had a jeep with a driver, kinda hard to hold a rifle and drive simultaneously.