What Happens When You Write to the BOP About Someone at USP Canaan

The Bureau of Prisons uses something called the Correspondence Tracking System (CTS) to log mail and emails from the public. If you're reaching out with a question or concern about someone at USP Canaan, CTS is the internal tool that records your message and manages what happens next.

Emails are handled the same way as paper letters. Don't expect an instant reply - responses typically take 20–30 working days, depending on your question and who needs to review it. Once the BOP receives a letter or email about an inmate, staff log it in CTS, assign a tracking number, and route it to the right program area or facility for review. After they send a response, the CTS record is closed. That tracking number links your inquiry to the internal workflow as it moves through the system.

• ✓ The assigned CTS tracking number
• ✓ The correspondent’s name
• ✓ The inmate’s register number
• ✓ The issue you cited in your inquiry

CTS records don't stick around forever. They're scheduled for deletion 2 years after creation or 2 years after the last entry - whichever comes later.

1. Keep a clean copy of what you sent - save a copy of your letter or email, plus the date you sent it, so you can refer back to the exact wording if you need to follow up.
2. Watch for (and write down) the tracking number - CTS assigns a tracking number when your correspondence is logged; that number is the simplest way to locate the record later.
3. Give it the normal response window - because emails are processed the same way as written correspondence, it may take about 20–30 working days to receive a response.
4. Use the best search detail when you check status - if you’re trying to locate the inquiry in CTS, the tracking number is ideal. If you don’t have it, use the correspondent name, the inmate register number, or the issue you cited to help pull up the record.