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DOJ INSPECTOR GENERAL SLAMS LOCKDOWNS, HEALTHCARE, RESTRAINTS AT USP CANAAN
Biblically, the phrase “land flowing with milk and honey” describes Canaan, roughly the area encompassed by Israel, Jordan, most of Lebanon and Syria. The phrase symbolized agricultural prosperity, abundance, and God’s provision.
According to a report issued by the Dept of Justice Office of Inspector General last week, USP Canaan (Waymart, PA) is nowhere close to being the Promised Land.
The Inspector General’s report identified several “serious issues” with treatment of inmates, contraband and employee practices at USP Canaan found during a June 2025 inspection.
The OIG criticized improper use of 4-point restraints on inmates, too-frequent use of institution-wide lockdowns, the prison’s ability to provide healthcare to inmates, and inappropriate imagery and demeaning language in employee spaces.
The OIG found that USP Canaan frequently restricted the movement of general population inmates when the SHU was full. When inmates who would normally be assigned to the Special Housing Unit had to remain in general population housing units because the SHU was over capacity, the Report found, “USP Canaan significantly limited inmate movement in those units to maintain security. On about two-thirds of days in a 4-month period we examined, inmates housed in regular, non-SHU housing units were confined to their cells for all or most of the day. These frequent restrictions disrupted institution-wide functions and activities of general population inmates.”
As for the facility’s enthusiastic use of four-point restraints in the SHU, Deputy Inspector Bill Blier said, “Multiple USP Canaan employees told us they had seen [the] restraints applied too tightly, which caused the hands of restrained inmates to swell and become discolored. While BOP policy allows for use of restraints in certain situations, it is impermissible to cause physical pain or extreme discomfort.”
The Report found that as of the June 2025 inspection, Canaan had been without an on-site, full-time physician for 2.5 years. Several Health Services Department employees told OIG that “the lack of an on-site physician contributed to delays in conducting required examinations for inmates arriving at the institution. BOP policy requires inmates with chronic conditions or mental health concerns to be seen by a mid-level provider or physician within 14 days of arrival. However, 61 such appointments were past the BOP’s required timeframe for completion as of January 2025. By January 2026, the number had increased to 94 overdue appointments.
The inspection also found inconsistencies with delivering medication, expired medical supplies and delays in providing healthcare and lab testing.
“We also observed unsafe practices in dental services, specifically sharp dental surgical tools and chloroform stored in unlocked cabinets near inmates,” OIG reported.
Blier said inspectors observed prison employees using “inappropriate and demeaning language” toward inmates and other employees, as well as inappropriate imagery in employee areas.
The report makes nine recommendations to correct the issues. The BOP agreed with all of them, and in the appendices of the report, outlined the steps that have been taken over the past year to rectify each situation.
Previously, the OIG has conducted similar inspections on FCI Waseca, FCI Tallahassee, FMC Devens, FCI Sheridan and FDC SeaTac.
OIG, Inspection of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ US Penitentiary Canaan (Report No. 26-055, May 21, 2026)
~ Thomas L. Root