How to Find a Pen Pal While Incarcerated

It is common to feel lonely while you are incarcerated. To fill communication voids and establish new friendships, some prisoners seek pen pals. There are many pen pal services that cater to prisoners. Follow these steps to find them.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Internet access

Follow the Rules for Exchanging Mail in Prison

1. Refer to your inmate handbook or list of rules to learn the protocol for sending and receiving mail while incarcerated. Ask a corrections officer for help.
2. Remember that inmates have a right to receive and send mail. However, that right is subject to prison rules.
3. Make sure those with whom you wish to exchange written correspondence know the rules.
4. Know that your pen pal may wish to send you gifts. Find out which gifts are off-limits to save your correspondent time and money. You may be required to return forbidden gifts at your own expense.

Get Help Finding a Pen Pal

5. Ask a family member or friend to assist you with registering with a pen pal service that caters to prisoners.
6. Direct your friend or family member to the Prisoner Life Web site (see Resources below).
7. Realize that the Prisoner Life Web site does charge a fee to register a prisoner for its pen pal service. Your friend or family member must pay this fee for you.
8. Visit the Prison Talk Web site for support and advice about life in prison (see Resources below).

Correspond With a Pen Pal While Incarcerated

9. Obtain stamps, envelopes and writing materials for sending letters.
10. Remember that your mail is not private. Prison officials have the right to read your outgoing and incoming mail. Limit your writing to things you are comfortable having prison officials read.
11. Join a second pen pal service if you'd like to receive more mail.

Tips & Warnings

• If you choose to have a pen pal, you will need money. You likely will have to buy stamps and envelopes, as prison rules may prohibit others from sending them to you.