I have not gotten involved with a church prison ministry yet, but I have considered writing letters to prison inmates (people I don’t know and have no connection) as pen-pal ministry. What are the risks involved, and what should I be aware of (law and procedure-wise?) I won’t divulge any personal info to them, of course - more like letting them have someone to talk to.
While I have not done this myself, I can think of a few things off the top of my head.
Do not give any information that would allow them to find you if they are released and/or escape. I would use a PO Box (not in your hometown, but a neighboring one) for mailing purposes. If possible, don’t let the inmate know what church is sponsoring the relationship. You might want to even consider not giving your last name and/or using a pen-name.
Do not give any legal advice, as there would seem to be several ways in which that could go wrong.
Absolutely don’t send money, outside of small amounts for their commissary. Frankly, I would be hesitant to do even that for fear of setting a precedent which could provide a basis for larger demands. A subscription to appropriate magazines might be a better gift if you want to do so. Check with the prison as to what is allowed.
Don’t agree to contact people on the outside for the inmate. You don’t know who you might be going to meet or what they are capable of.
Remember that the person you are communicating with is a criminal and is probably very good at manipulating others. Unlike you, the inmate has all the time in the world to think about how to do so. Be on guard against attempts to do so with you.
All that said, I applaud you for your interest in performing this service. Just don’t get your hopes up that you will be the cause of someone turning his life around and walking the straight and narrow. It might happen, but the odds are against it.
I, to would be wary of any info given. It’s so easy to find people now with social media as it is.
I write to someone on death row. He’s never getting out.
I’ve told him about my life and family, I’m not living in fear that he’s ever going to come over to the UK and seek me out.
What we have been warned about is another inmate appropriating the letters and starting to manipulate the relationship. What we were told, by an inmate with whom we were corresponding, that in prison con artists find people who are receiving letters and either divert the letters to themselves or take them from the recipient, and start replying. Apparently they can make themselves sound like anyone and sound very sympathetic. They after all have nothing but time to refine their craft. You have to be very careful to avoid falling in to a trap while you think you are corresponding to a friend or relation.
Not to discourage you from writing-far from it! But just be careful about the possibility of manipulation.
Thanks. Is there anything that is illegal to write to a prison inmate? (such as legal advice or information about court cases, as already mentioned, but I wouldn’t be writing that)
Also, how about emails? (not using my personal everyday email, but a different one set up.)
If you are really so afraid about what this hypothetical criminal may try to do to you, isn’t the simplest solution be to not pick a criminal pen pal?
Don’t believe what they tell you about being innocent and reformed. And do not sen them any cash. That would open the floodgates.
Also, don’t send Boggle timer sand. That is really cocaine.
Everyone’s warning you to be cautious and that’s all good, but might I just say that I truly admire you for doing this. It’s a kind act of the purest charity, and you should be commended for it.
I’m cutting and pasting my response from 2007 from an earlier thread.:
Now, this was in the days before common Internet access, where it would not have been easy to get details on the inmates, what their sentences were, and exactly what they looked like.
Except he says it is a church prison ministry. It isn’t charity, it is a recruitment drive.
Thanks for the advice everyone.
AIUI, one has to be careful about writing things that could trigger grief or frustration in an inmate - for instance, writing about attending a family member’s graduation ceremony or wedding or going on vacation would make an inmate envious about not being able to do things like that. What sort of topics would be useful for conversation in mail? Sports? Steering clear of politics would probably be best, of course.
Related to what Darren said, what is your goal in writing? Are you looking for a hobby? Do you want to help prisoners pass the time? Do you hope to reform prisoners? Convert them to your church? Help them find God in a more general sense? Something else?
I’ll reaffirm the caution about sending money et al. That’s solid.
But for those of you who are saying ‘be careful! They’re master manipulators!’ and such? Have you ever met an person who’s an inmate in a prison? I’ve interviewed dozens over the years ranging from minor drug offenses to major child porn producers. Most of them are unsubtle, obvious fuck ups who couldn’t trick anyone with even the slightest bit of non-naivete. They vast majority were there because they couldn’t meet the minimal requirements of society to behave themselves.
Go ahead and write. You might do some good. But don’t go in fearfully thinking everything said is part of some master plan to fool you. Most will be just looking for some communication and human contact outside of the small society in which they find themselves.
Mainly giving them someone normal to talk to on the outside, “pass the time” might be the closest description based off of the ones you listed.
Yeah, 'cause no religious institution would ever do anything from a completely altruistic motive. :rolleyes:
Maybe some do, but not the ones I grew up around and am still surrounded by.
That is good to hear. The advice we received was from someone who has only been incarcerated for a year or two. So perhaps his advice was the caution/fear of a newbie.