Who to Call When You Have Questions About an Inmate at USP Canaan
Getting a straight answer about someone at USP Canaan usually comes down to knowing who to call. Here's how to pick the right contact and avoid getting bounced around.
For questions about USP Canaan's day-to-day operations or procedures, start with the facility's web page on the BOP site. Each federal prison has its own phone numbers and addresses depending on what you need, so the Bureau of Prisons routes facility-specific questions directly to that location. Checking the facility page first can save you a second round of calls - many answers are already spelled out there.
Heads up: If the BOP inmate locator shows
Note: Because sentences are being reviewed and recalculated under the First Step Act, the release date shown on the BOP inmate locator may be out of date for some people.
BOP Central Office handles questions about information on the BOP website - not facility procedures. If you're trying to fix a website issue, clarify something the site is showing, or ask a broad BOP-level question, Central Office is the right call.
You can reach BOP Central Office at Federal Bureau of Prisons, 320 First St., NW, Washington, DC 20534, or by phone at (202) 307-3198.
If you email BOP Central Office, expect a wait. The BOP processes emails like written correspondence, so responses typically take 20–30 working days. Some requests move faster depending on what you're asking, but plan for a few weeks.
Planning tip: For non-urgent website questions routed through Central Office, expect that 20–30 working-day timeline. Contact: 320 First St., NW, Washington, DC 20534; (202) 307-3198.
Practical Steps Before Calling
- ✓ Check the BOP inmate locator first to confirm the person is in BOP custody and see whether a facility is listed.
- ✓ Review USP Canaan’s facility web page for the operational or procedural information you’re trying to confirm before you call.
- Find the person’s BOP register number - it’s the identifier you’ll use for lookups and to help staff pull the right record.
- Enter it in the required format - the inmate locator requires the register number format #####-###.
- Use the same formatted number when you ask questions - having it ready helps keep the call focused and avoids mix-ups with similar names.
- ✓ Inmate’s full name
- ✓ BOP register number in the format #####-###
- ✓ A clear, one-sentence reason for your inquiry (what you’re trying to find out)
- ✓ Any details you already confirmed on USP Canaan’s facility web page (so you can ask a more specific follow-up)
If the inmate locator doesn't match what you expected - especially around release dates - mention that upfront. First Step Act sentence recalculations can affect the dates shown, so flagging this helps whoever responds understand what you're trying to verify.
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