Sending Money to Someone at USP Canaan: What Happens to Your Information
Sending money to someone in federal prison might seem simple enough, but every transaction creates a record inside Bureau of Prisons (BOP) systems. Here's what information gets captured when funds move to or from an inmate - and how certain scanned documents are handled. For specifics about USP Canaan's procedures, your best bet is to contact the facility directly.
The BOP tracks inmate money through a system called TRUFACS. This system logs deposits, withdrawals, and other transactions tied to trust accounts - commissary purchases, payments toward court-ordered fines and restitution, medical co-payments, and phone transactions all show up here.
Note: BOP materials describe TRUNET alongside TRUFACS as part of how the agency manages inmate funds and commissary operations.
When you send money to an inmate (or receive funds from one), you're not just moving dollars. You're also sharing identifying details that get attached to the transaction. This typically includes your name and home address, and may include financial instrument information - like details from a check or money order.
Those details don't exist separately - they become part of the transaction record in TRUFACS. So when you wonder "what happens to my information," the short answer is: the BOP's financial system logs both the transaction and the identifying information that came with it.
TRUFACS doesn't just store transaction entries - it can also hold scanned documents tied to inmate financial activity. One example from BOP documentation is BP Form-199, an authorization for recurring monthly withdrawals.
These scanned files are temporary records. According to BOP documentation, they're destroyed 90 days after verification - including scanned BP Form-199s.
Practical takeaway: Supporting paperwork may be scanned into TRUFACS during processing, but those files aren't kept forever. They're destroyed 90 days after verification.
Practical Steps Confirm
- ✓ Call USP Canaan and ask which deposit methods are currently accepted
- ✓ Ask what sender details are required for the method you plan to use (for example, name, address, or financial instrument details)
- ✓ Confirm any receipt/confirmation process so you know what proof you’ll have after you send funds
- ✓ If you’re trying to limit what you share, ask which option collects the least personal information while still being accepted
Heads up: BOP documentation explains what information can be captured when you send funds, but it doesn't detail USP Canaan's specific deposit process. The facility may ask for different information depending on how they handle incoming money.
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