USP Canaan Lockdown

On January 22, 2024 USP Canaan went on complete lockdown due to a fight. 

Commissary workers at this location went on strike about one week prior to the lockdown. This made it to where most units could not buy food or items needed. 

Currently they are being fed box trays for lunch and dinner which includes 2 bologna sandwiches with cheese, 4 duplex cookies and a small bag of pretzels for lunch and dinner. For breakfast they are served chex cereal and a muffin. The milk served to them on January 23, 2024 expired on January 21,  2024. Starting January 26, 2024 they were given a hot meal at lunch but for dinner received 2 pieces of bread, 2 slices of meat, 1 cheese slice and a little bit of lettuce and a small bag of chips. 

The FDA states that 2,000 calories is needed per day. Some calorie counts for items they are being fed: 
Bologna -  170 calories
Bread- 120 calories
Cheese slice- 60 calories 
1 cookie - 60 calories 
Chips- 160 calories
Pretzels - 100 calories 
Chex cereal - 100 calories 
Muffin- ~300 calories 
Milk - 100 calories 

So on a cereal and box tray day they received 1780 calories. 

Page 8 of the Federal bureau of prisons special housing unit states- 

(e) Food. You will receive nutritionally adequate meals.

During lockdowns, inmates are allowed showers every 3 days 

Page 8 of the Federal bureau of prisons special housing unit states-

(f) Personal hygiene. You will have access to a wash basin and toilet. You will receive personal items necessary to maintain an acceptable level of personal hygiene, for example, toilet tissue, soap, toothbrush and cleanser, shaving utensils, etc. You will ordinarily have an opportunity to shower and shave at least 
three times per week. You will have access to hair care services as necessary.

On February 2, 2024 the inmates were to receive showers on the third day. This was denied by staff until the following day giving them 4 days without a shower. 

Pulled from page 30 of USP Canaan inmate handbook- 

Incoming Correspondence 
All incoming general correspondence mail will be photocopies, to include photos, and distributed Monday through Friday, except holidays, by the evening Watch Officer in each housing unit. Newspapers and magazines are also delivered at this time. Legal and "Special Mail" will be delivered by Mailroom Staff as soon as possible after it is received. The number 
of incoming letters you receive will not be limited unless the number received places an unreasonable burden on the Institution. You are asked to advise those writing to you to document your Registration Number and quarters assignment (e.g. A1, A2, B1, etc.), on the envelope to aid the prompt delivery of mail. Any packages you receive at the institution must have prior authorization. All incoming General Correspondence Envelopes must be white in color. If an incoming correspondence envelope is other than white, or contains glitter, stickers, lipstick, fragrance, stained, written in other than 
pen, pencil or typed i.e. crayons, marker, ect., or contains an oily substance, the mail may be rejected according to Program Statement, 5265.14, Correspondence, Section 6 (d).

The First Amendment of the Constitution entitles prisoners to send and receive mail. 

Mail is being returned and denied due to the BOP policy of only  5 pages, writing on one side, in one white envelope. This is not well communicated in their inmate handbook. This rule has also not been enforced for over a year but now during this lockdown it is. 

Very few inmates have received mail from their loved ones at home. Many inmates are worried about the well being of their loved ones which contributes to their depression during this time. Inmates are unable to use any form of communication during lockdowns except mail. This mail is now being withheld from them for 2.5 weeks now. 

When USP Canaan was called about the mail issues the mail supervisor stated that they haven't received it from the post office. There was no other answer given to why many inmates have not received mail during this lockdown. 

Today, February 8, 2024 is the 18th day of lockdown. During this time the inmates are not receiving adequate nutrition or hygienic care. They are not having their first amendment honored by being able to receive mail during this time of 24 hours lockdown which has shown statistically to be the most detrimental to an inmate's mental health. 

Please sign to raise attention to these issues so that inmates can be treated in humane conditions.