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Canaan Camp SCP

Minimum

Satellite Camp

Canaan Camp SCP is a minimum-security satellite prison camp for men located in Waymart, Pennsylvania, about 20 miles east of Scranton. The camp operates adjacent to USP Canaan and offers structured programming including vocational training, substance abuse treatment, and First Step Act classes.

Last verified: March 5, 2026

SCPNortheast RegionMale

What to Expect at Canaan Camp SCP

Location & Travel

  • •Location & Travel: Canaan Camp is in Wayne County, the most northeastern county in Pennsylvania, about 20 miles east of Scranton and 134 miles north of Philadelphia.
  • •Lodging: Comfort Inn Clarks Summit — 570-586-9100
  • •Lodging: Sleep Inn & Suites Scranton — 570-800-2903
  • •Lodging: Days Inn Scranton — 570-483-8991

Communication & Mail

  • •Phone: 520 phone minutes a month: The prison pays for the first 300 free phone minutes per month if you are enrolled in First Step Act programming; calls cost around $0.06/minute for the additional 210 minutes.
  • •Phone: Phone calls are capped at 15 minutes per call. Calls can only be placed at 30-minute intervals and consecutive calls are not permitted.
  • •Phone: The telephone area is accessible daily from 6:00 a.m. Phones are available seven days a week.

Visiting

  • •Visiting: Visiting schedules are available by contacting the facility directly at 570-488-8000. Saturday, Sunday, and Federal Holidays are standard visiting days.

Daily Life

  • •Library: The library offers fiction, non-fiction, periodicals, newspapers, and reference books. The facility also participates in an interlibrary loan program with local libraries.

Good to Know

  • •Location & Travel: The facility is located at 3057 Eric J. Williams Memorial Drive, Waymart, PA 18472.
  • •Housing: Open dormitory-style housing with more freedom of movement than secured facilities.

Insider Information

Housing

The satellite camp houses minimum-security male prisoners in an open dormitory-style setting with more freedom of movement than the adjacent USP.

Law Library

The Electronic Law Library provides access to legal materials and document preparation tools. Typewriters, legal forms, and law clerks are available during normal hours. Hours are Monday through Thursday 7:30–9:30 a.m. and 12:30–8:30 p.m., Friday 7:30–9:30 a.m. and 12:30–3:30 p.m., and Saturday 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. A copying machine is available for legal work only.

Mail

The camp accepts U.S. Postal Service First-Class, Priority, and Express mail. Contact the facility before sending overnight mail via private carriers. People may subscribe to publications without prior approval. Each person is limited to three magazines, one newspaper, and five books.

Psychology/Counseling Services

Psychology services include intake screenings, crisis intervention, and suicide prevention. Self-help, support, and lifestyle change programs are offered as resources allow. Treatment groups focusing on anger management, emotional self-regulation, and basic cognitive skills are periodically available. The camp also offers a non-residential drug treatment program, a drug education course, and various support groups.

Health Services

Camp prisoners can access sick call Monday through Friday at 6:00 AM by submitting a handwritten sick call request. Preventive healthcare visits are available to all prisoners under age 50 every three years, and annually for those 50 and older. Pill lines at the camp are conducted twice a day.

Fitness & Recreation

Leisure activities and recreation programs are supervised by the recreation department. Programs range from individualized arts and crafts to intramural team sports such as softball, basketball, and soccer. Various leisure classes and programs are also available.

Religious Services

A range of religious programs and services are available to accommodate various faiths. Programs are supported by staff chaplains, outside volunteers, and contractors. A regularly updated schedule is posted in the chapel and on TRULINCS. Personal religious items must be approved by the chaplain and can be obtained through the commissary.

Commissary

See the full commissary list for Canaan Camp SCP below, including available items and pricing.

View Canaan Camp SCP Commissary List↗

Become Extraordinary and Compelling!

Live as the CEO of your life at Canaan Camp SCP by posting journal entries, release plans, and book reports at PrisonProfessors.org—so others can hold you accountable while you build skills and earn freedom through merit.

Preparing for Self-Surrender at Canaan Camp SCP

Canaan Camp SCP is a Federal Prison Camp. Camps generally have greater freedom of movement, no perimeter fencing, lower levels of violence, and access to First Step Act programming.

Pre-Surrender Checklist

  • •Bring your contact list and release plan
  • •Close out work and professional obligations
  • •Set up power of attorney and financial access
  • •Handle all medical preparations
  • •Choose one primary point of contact
  • •Prepare your family for phone and visitation limits
  • •Pack only what the facility allows
  • •Arrange transportation and surrender details
  • •Form a reading list before you arrive
  • •Know which programs are actually offered

Helpful Resources

Top 10 Self Surrender Checklist

Visitation Information For Families

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Programs & Services

Education Programs

  • GED
  • ESL
  • Adult Continuing Education

Vocational Training

  • Culinary Arts (200-hour program with ServSafe certification)

Health & Wellness

  • Drug Education Course
  • Anger Management
  • Emotional Self-Regulation
  • Basic Cognitive Skills
  • Substance Abuse Support Groups

Recreation

  • Softball
  • Basketball
  • Soccer
  • Arts and Crafts
  • Leisure Classes
  • Intramural Team Sports

Reentry Preparation

  • First Step Act Classes
  • Parenting Classes

Visiting Information

Regular Visiting Hours

  • Saturday: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Sunday: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Federal Holidays: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Important Notes

  • • Valid government-issued photo ID required
  • • All visitors subject to search
  • • Dress code enforced

Note: Visiting schedules may vary. Contact the facility directly for the most current visiting hours and procedures. For a complete breakdown of visitation rules, dress code, and how to get approved, visit our Visitation Guide.

What a Smaller Camp Means for You

With a population of approximately 90 people, Canaan Camp SCP is a smaller facility — and that has real implications for daily life, programming, and how you're treated.

Pros

  • ✓Easier to get noticed for the right reasons — consistent behavior, good work ethic, and program participation are visible to staff, which can help with halfway house recommendations and early release planning
  • ✓Shorter lines for commissary, phones, sick call, and laundry — daily life has less friction
  • ✓Fewer interpersonal conflicts — smaller populations generally mean a calmer environment with less drama
  • ✓Staff may have more flexibility with halfway house and home confinement recommendations because they actually know who you are

Cons

  • ✗Easier to get noticed for the wrong reasons too — if you get a disciplinary infraction, miss a count, or get caught with contraband like a cell phone, staff will know immediately and consequences come fast, including the SHU and potential transfer to a higher-security facility
  • ✗Fewer program options — vocational training, education, and RDAP slots may be limited, and waitlists can be unpredictable
  • ✗The prison hustle is harder to run — in a smaller camp, there's nowhere to hide; paying someone to cover your work assignment or moving contraband is far riskier because everyone sees everything
  • ✗Less anonymity — your business is everyone's business, which can feel suffocating

Frequently Asked Questions About Canaan Camp SCP

Canaan Camp SCP is a minimum-security Federal Prison Camp (FPC). It typically has dormitory-style housing, no perimeter fencing, and more flexible movement compared to higher-security institutions.

No. Canaan Camp SCP does not currently offer the Residential Drug Abuse Program. Individuals seeking RDAP placement must be designated to an institution that provides the program.

Individuals reporting to Canaan Camp SCP typically undergo intake processing including identification verification, medical screening, housing assignment, and orientation specific to this institution's minimum-security level and dormitory housing structure.

Visiting at Canaan Camp SCP typically takes place on Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays. All visitors must be on the approved visiting list and present a valid government-issued photo ID upon arrival. Visitors should follow the BOP dress code: no revealing clothing, no clothing that resembles prisoner uniforms (typically khaki or orange), and no open-toed shoes at some facilities. Contact Canaan Camp SCP directly or check the BOP website for the most current schedule and any facility-specific restrictions.

Funds for individuals at Canaan Camp SCP should be sent through BOP-approved methods: MoneyGram, Western Union, or U.S. Postal Money Orders. All funds are processed through the Federal Bureau of Prisons' centralized National Finance Center in Des Moines, Iowa — not sent directly to Canaan Camp SCP. Money orders should be made payable to the individual's committed name and include their BOP register number. Allow 7–10 business days for processing.

Individuals at Canaan Camp SCP have access to three primary communication channels. Phone: you receive 300 free phone minutes per month if you are First Step Act eligible, then you pay six cents a minute for up to 210 additional minutes. Calls cut off after 15 minutes, and calls will come from a 202 number or private caller. Phone access is seven days a week. Email: the TRULINCS system allows electronic messaging for a small per-minute fee. Regular mail: letters and cards can be sent and received through the U.S. Postal Service. Mail can be sent to: INMATE NAME & REGISTER NUMBER USP Canaan U.S. Penitentiary Satellite Camp P.O. Box 200 Waymart, PA 18472.

The commissary at Canaan Camp SCP operates on a set schedule and offers snacks, beverages, hygiene products, over-the-counter medications, writing materials, stamps, and limited clothing items. The standard monthly spending limit is $360 (excluding telephone credits, stamps, and OTC medications). Some facilities implement this as a bi-weekly $180 cap. A current commissary list is typically available through the unit team.

Canaan Camp SCP is a minimum-security facility where most individuals serve sentences ranging from several months to 10+ years. Sentence length depends on the offense, sentencing guidelines, and any applicable reductions such as good conduct time or RDAP completion.

The Bureau of Prisons requires all facilities to offer literacy and GED programs for individuals without a high school diploma. Canaan Camp SCP provides educational programming that may include GED preparation, English as a Second Language (ESL), and post-secondary education opportunities through correspondence or partnerships. Current offerings include: GED, ESL, Adult Continuing Education. Availability may change based on staffing and enrollment.

The BOP enforces a dress code for all visitors. Clothing must not be revealing — no low-cut tops, shorts above the knee, or see-through materials. Visitors should avoid wearing colors that match prisoner uniforms (typically khaki, orange, or olive drab). Open-toed shoes may be prohibited at some facilities. Undergarments are required. Visitors who do not meet dress code standards may be turned away. Contact Canaan Camp SCP in advance if you have questions about specific items.

Yes, but publications must be sent directly from the publisher, a bookstore, or a book club — not from an individual. Hardcover and softcover books, newspapers, and magazines are generally permitted as long as they do not contain content deemed a security threat. Used books are typically not accepted. All incoming publications are subject to inspection by mailroom staff at Canaan Camp SCP.

Canaan Camp SCP is located in Waymart, Pennsylvania, within the Northeast Region of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Contact the facility directly for driving directions and nearby lodging options.

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How Long Will You Actually Serve?

Federal sentences are not always served in full. Good time credit, the First Step Act, and RDAP can significantly reduce your time served.

Estimate Your Actual Release Date

Contact Information

3057 ERIC J. WILLIAMS MEMORIAL DRIVE, WAYMART, PA 18472

Waymart, Pennsylvania 18472

570-488-8000

Mailing Address

INMATE NAME & REGISTER NUMBER

USP Canaan

U.S. Penitentiary

Satellite Camp

P.O. Box 200

Waymart, PA 18472

Questions? Call us now: 949-799-3277

Facility Details

Security Level
Minimum
Facility Type
SCP
Region
Northeast
Gender
Male
Population
90
Updated: Mar 5, 2026

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Security Notice

All phone calls are recorded. All emails are saved. Mail can be read by staff.