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How to mail a letter to an inmate at USP Canaan

To write to someone held at USP Canaan, address your envelope to the inmate's full committed name and register number, USP Canaan, PO Box 300, Waymart, PA 18472. USP Canaan is a federal high-security penitentiary in Waymart, Pennsylvania, operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Inmate mail — USP Canaan

[Inmate's full committed name]  [register number]
USP Canaan
PO Box 300
Waymart, PA  18472

Put the inmate's full committed name and register number on the first line, and mail to the institution's inmate-mail address here — not its street address. Mail without a usable name and register number is returned.

Verified September 2026bop.govbop.gov

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Your name
Your return address

USP CanaanPO Box 300Waymart, PA 18472

Your letter, printed and mailed for you.

Key facts

  • Send mail to USP Canaan, PO Box 300, Waymart, PA 18472 — the institution's inmate-mail address, not its street address.
  • Federal mail goes to each institution's own P.O. box, not a central address. Address it to the person's full committed name and 8-digit register number, then the institution's name, then its P.O. box.
  • Money is the one exception: funds for a federal inmate's commissary account do NOT go to the institution. They go to a separate national processing center — Federal Bureau of Prisons, PO Box 474701, Des Moines, IA 50947-0001 — regardless of which facility the person is in.
  • Incoming mail is opened and inspected for contraband before delivery; legal mail is opened only in the inmate's presence.
  • Confirm the person's current institution on the BOP's online inmate locator before mailing — federal inmates are transferred between facilities, sometimes with little notice.
  • PostPal prints and mails your letter for you the next business day for $5 — with your return address printed so the inmate can write back, and no printer, envelope, or stamp needed.

How to send your letter

  1. 1

    Confirm the person is still at USP Canaan

    Inmates are transferred between facilities without notice. Confirm they are still at USP Canaan — and double-check the register number — before you mail anything, using the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)'s official inmate locator.

  2. 2

    Address it exactly

    First line: the inmate's full committed name and register number. Then USP Canaan, PO Box 300, Waymart, PA 18472. Add your full return address.

  3. 3

    Keep the contents allowed

    Plain letter-size paper is safest. Do not enclose cash, stamps, gift cards, or any object other than paper — prohibited items get the whole letter rejected. Check the mail rules above before adding photos.

  4. 4

    Send it without a printer

    Write or upload your letter to PostPal with this address prefilled, and we print, envelope, and mail it via USPS the next business day for $5 — your return address printed so they can reply.

Common questions

How do I address a letter to an inmate at USP Canaan?

Put the inmate's full committed name and register number on the first line, then USP Canaan, PO Box 300, Waymart, PA 18472. Include your full first and last name and return address on the envelope.

Is mail to USP Canaan opened, read, or scanned?

Expect it to be. Incoming personal mail is opened and inspected for contraband and can be read under the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)'s rules.

What can I send to USP Canaan — photos, cards, or books?

Standard photo prints are generally accepted; polaroids typically are not. Books and magazines usually must come directly from a publisher or approved vendor, not in personal mail.

What can't I mail to USP Canaan?

Do not send: Cash, personal checks, or postage stamps sent as enclosures; Any item other than paper (no polaroids, laminated items, or enclosures); Nude, sexually explicit, or contraband-promoting content; Stickers, glitter, glue, tape, perfume, lipstick, or crayon/marker. Prohibited items get the letter rejected or destroyed.

What if the person has been transferred or released?

The letter will not reliably reach them or come back to you. Confirm they are still at USP Canaan before mailing, since the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) moves people without notice.

Can the inmate write back to me?

Yes, if you include a complete return address. Inmates can send outgoing mail, though they may need to cover their own postage. PostPal prints your return address for you.

Sources

Addresses verified September 2026 against official sources. Always confirm on the official site before time-sensitive filings.

See the full Pennsylvania inmate mail rules — what you can and can’t send, photos & more →

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