How to Meet an Inmate
The art of writing letters has nearly gone by the wayside. Writing an inmate may be a good way to exercise your writing skills, whether you are looking for a new friend, hoping to reach out to someone who needs help or are looking for a soul mate. Not all inmates are bad people, and you may be able to cultivate a new relationship. While it isn't hard to meet an inmate, there are safety considerations to be made before you start your quest.
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Instructions
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Find a Friend
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1
Use an inmate penpal service. There are many Internet sites to choose from (see Resource 1) to meet an inmate. Many of these are free, though they may require you to register on their site or fill out a form with contact information.
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2
Contact a specific prison. Most prisons host their own inmate penpal service so you can find an inmate in your area or one that is across the country.
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3
Be ready to write. Inmates cannot use email, and collect calls can get pricey. Old-fashioned letter sending is the best route.
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4
Be sure to include the Department of Corrections (DOC) number on all correspondence to ensure delivery.
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Check the rules of the prison. Some prisons allow small gifts or stamps and some do not. Many prisons do not allow sending Polaroid photos. Polaroids are sometimes banned because of their design--many prisons have found them used to smuggle in drugs and other contraband.
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Be 18 years of age or older. Many of the inmate penpal sites only allow legal adults to use their services. Not only can it be dangerous for a minor to contact an anonymous prisoner, the prisoner could get in trouble for writing someone younger than 18.
Safety First
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Get a post office box. This will give you the upper hand if you choose to discontinue contact.
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8
Use a pseudonym. Remaining anonymous is safer; a full name and zip code is plenty of information to track someone down.
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9
Realize that a photo of yourself could also be used to find you.
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10
Watch out for scams. Don't send money to the inmate or to another outside party.
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11
Be wary if an inmate asks you to contact someone for them. Inmates can write to people and most can at least make collect telephone calls. If they need to contact someone and ask for your help, offer to send a stamp and an envelope, if they can receive these gifts.
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