For people who are in prison, including those wrongly convicted, writing and receiving letters from people outside can give them hope, make them feel understood, and give them motivation. Sending letters to people in prison can help us understand how the criminal justice system works and learn about different points of view and life stories from both the person in prison and the person writing the letter.
Who to write to
There are many ways to find someone in prison to write a letter to.
If you know someone in prison, you need their full name, their assigned ID number, and the full name and address of the place they are staying at, in order to send them a letter.
You can also find a group that helps connect volunteers with people in prison who want to have someone to write to.
These groups can help you safely and easily start a pen pal friendship.
Here are some organizations that can help you find someone to write to:
Things to consider
Before you begin writing, check the prison’s mail rules by doing an internet search for “mail at ___ prison” or by calling the prison directly.
You can’t usually include crayons, glitter, markers that won’t rub off, colored pencils, stickers, paint, or perfume in the letters you send.
It’s better to use black or blue ink when writing with a pen or typing on white paper.
When mailing, it’s also better to use a white envelope.
You can put pictures or drawings that are no larger than 8 x 10 inches in the envelope.
Sometimes, the letter and the things inside it can get split up when it gets to the prison.
To make sure your recipient gets everything you send, use numbers to label the pages.
Write their real name and ID number on each page. Also, put your own name and address on the letter and the envelope.
It is also helpful to make a list of everything you have included at the beginning of your letter.
What to write
If you are worried about writing to a stranger, or are having trouble coming up with ideas, here are some helpful tips to think about when writing your first letter.
- Introduce yourself — tell them your name, general location, and how you found out about them.
- Share things about yourself and the outside world. Don’t be afraid to share details — writing that vividly describes sounds, smells, tastes, images, and feelings can be very impactful for an incarcerated person who may not have access to those things.
- Ask questions to get to know them — such as how they’re doing, plans they have for the future, and what their interests are.
- Consider sharing pictures, poetry, song lyrics, or a drawing.
It’s important to be clear about how frequently you can write.
Only write as often as you are sure you can keep up with it. If you think it will be hard to keep in touch regularly, it’s a good idea to let the person you are communicating with know ahead of time.
On the other hand, if you want to keep talking to someone regularly, let them know.
It can be hard for people in prison to get a letter from someone who promises to keep writing to them, but then doesn’t actually do it.
Also, make sure to be careful when writing your letters.
Police or prison staff may read your message.
It is very important not to ask any personal or private questions or share any personal information, especially anything related to their crime or legal process, because it could affect their case or be used against them later.
The value of writing a letter to someone in prison is the chance to form a meaningful bond with another person and help each other grow and feel supported.
If you stick to some simple rules and are honest about your dedication to writing, you can build a connection of understanding and empathy between yourself and people who are in prison.