Some states have banned inmates from communicating with WriteAPrisoner.com and other organizations that help inmates find pen-pals. In response, we are petitioning them to overturn these practices using a petition, Facebook, and old fashioned letter writing! Please lend your voice today!

“[I]t is undeniable that since approximately ninety percent of all inmates will one day be released, allowing prisoners to communicate with the outside world has important consequences:

“Without such contact with society outside the prison walls, rehabilitation would be adversely affected, prison morale weakened, perhaps inviting riots and other forms of internal disorder, and the inmates’ ability to readjust to the world outside the institution upon release would be markedly impaired.

“Free speech in the prison context is also important since it is the only first-hand account we have as to how the penal system is run. Communication also plays a vital role in an inmate’s access to the courts and his relations with counsel” (Holtz, 2002, p. 2).

“Very often, inmates have used the Internet not only to look for pen-pals and counsel, but also as a way to convey the inner workings of the American prison system or to tell their stories in order to garner support from the outside. Others write of their personal growth while incarcerated or share their creative writing or art work” (Holtz, 2002, p. 3).

"A clear and consistent emphasis on maximizing visitation and supporting contact with the outside world must be implemented, both to minimize the division between the norms of prison and those of the freeworld, and to discourage dysfunctional social withdrawal that is difficult to reverse upon release" (Hany, 2002, p. 17).

“The recommended policy guideline adopted by the Association of State Correctional Administrators on August 23, 1972, echoes the view that personal correspondence by prison inmates is a generally wholesome activity: ‘Correspondence with members of an inmate's family, close friends, associates and organizations is beneficial to the morale of all confined [416 U.S. 396, 413] persons and may form the basis for good adjustment in the institution and the community’” (U.S. Supreme Court PROCUNIER v. MARTINEZ, 416 U.S. 396 (1974) 416 U.S. 396).

“Two pieces of paper, envelopes and a pencil are provided to offenders upon arrival so they may correspond with family members and friends. While you may not send any food, clothing, cash, stamps or other items through the mail, written correspondence is encouraged. Many emotions may be felt at this time, so it is important that you maintain communication and provide support. It is common for new arrivals not to correspond with family or friends initially; they are often depressed and embarrassed. You should continue to write during this time, including your full return address on the envelope. The offenders need to know you still care and are there for them” (Missouri Department of Corrections, 2010).

“There are recognized rehabilitative benefits to permitting prisoners to maintain contact with the world outside the prison gates” (Wilken, 2002).

"As a group, prisoners have a markedly lower level of subjective quality of life and self-esteem but a higher level of anxiety and depression amounting to a severely compromised psychological well-being. Male prisoners are more likely to engage in emotion-focused and avoidance-focused coping behaviours, the former of which is highly likely to maintain their low levels of well-being" (Gullone, Jones, & Cummins, 1999, p. 6)

“The majority of people interviewed at the time of their release returned to their communities alone. Only a small number of returning prisoners were met by family members, friends, or social service representatives” (Travis, Solomon, & Waul, 2001, p. 26).

“The literature on prison reentry shows that connections to family and friends are strong predictors of success for women. Maintaining positive family contacts during and following incarceration fosters integration into the community and reduces recidivism. Good relationships with law-abiding intimate partners contribute to women’s financial security and reinforce their sense of competency. Law-abiding partners also can act as emotional role models and give social support” (Bui & Morash, 2010, p. 2).

A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Prison Service stated: "Prisoners corresponding with penpals is common practice throughout the world and something that we do not discourage. It gives inmates an opportunity to write about prison life and is particularly useful for those who do not have a wide circle of friends or family to confide in.” The spokesman added that the practice could be considered “therapeutic” and “educational” for inmates and may also “improve a person's literacy skills” which would in turn help prisoners “express their thoughts and feelings more clearly” (Devlin, 2010, p. 1).

“The Prison Pen-Pals Project, a PWAC project that is moving to Body Positive as part of the consolidation, is an attempt to help alleviate the isolation so many prisoners experience, and to provide them with the information and support they need while living with the virus behind bars” (Whittier, 1999, p. 4).

One inmate living with HIV stated, “I know how hard it is in prison, period -- the isolation, the loneliness, the despair, the hopelessness of being behind walls and the feeling of no one caring can be overwhelming. And being in prison with HIV is double trouble” (Whittier, 1999, p. 9).

“Several participants reported that feelings of loneliness were a significant factor in their suicide attempts. Most of the inmates who expressed such feelings said that they felt isolated from both the outside world and within the prison. These feelings were related to relationship difficulties; however, in many cases inmates felt lonely despite communicating with other inmates and family members, and thus this subtheme appeared to be more a part of depressive symptoms than of relationship issues. One participant observed:

Nobody is keeping in touch. That’s the main thing about depression in prison,
being alone. Here in prison you’re alone, you don’t have nobody. I tussle myself
all day long; that’s the only person I got. Sometimes…I would not wish it to my
worst enemy I guess, you know what I’m saying?” (Oregon Department of Corrections, 2009, p. 45-6).

“Prisoners’ family relationships and social networks outside the prison are emerging as a major corrections and social services issue. The strengthening of family ties is being promoted as a correctional treatment strategy and major changes in corrections communications policies support movement in that direction” (Hairston, 1991, p. 87).

“Two percent of the men who had three or more different visitors during the year prior to parole were returned to prison within one year of their parole. This number contrasts with 12 percent of those who had no contact with family and friends and the difference was statistically significant” (Hairston, 1991, p. 97-8).

“Several studies suggest the prisoner's mental health is dependent on his contact with the outside world” (Hairston, 1991, p. 93-4).

“[I]t has been suggested that the inmate can draw on the social support of family and friends to better adjust to the stresses and strains of prison life” (Hoffman, Dickinson, & Dunn, 2007, p. 48).

“More recently, the National Institute of Corrections suggested that visitation may facilitate the development of healthy family relationships that may constitute an important ingredient in the offender’s support network after release. Furthermore, states are reexamining their prison policies and, in some cases, recommending increased prisoner access to visitation, mail correspondence, and telephone communication (e.g., see Florida House of Representatives Justice Council Committee on Corrections, 1998)” (Hoffman, Dickinson, & Dunn, 2007, p. 49).

“Research suggests that maintaining the inmate’s ties to family and friends will improve the inmate’s chances of reintegrating into the community after release. Changes in prison communication policies since 1971 seem to demonstrate the integration of this belief into contemporary correctional practice. However, only 30% of the facilities responding to our 2005 survey reported making significant changes to their communication policies during the past 10 years. Furthermore, the 2005 survey shows that communication policies have changed little and, in some cases, have gotten more restrictive since the 1991 survey” (Hoffman, Dickinson, & Dunn, 2007, p. 55).

“Research shows that for women, quality relationships that support their new goals and vision of their lives makes the difference. Cherie D. Lindsay, lead Case Manager… says, ‘Relationships often lead women into difficulties that end in arrest and incarceration. By building new relationships with family, mentors, and support systems it creates the possibilities for a new and fulfilling life.’” (OurPlaceDC, 2010, p. 1).

“The present study examined institutional and individual factors that were related to levels of anxiety, depression and psychological well-being within these groups. A psychiatric history, religious faith, feelings of guilt, lack of close friends outside prison, or disinclination to take part in sport, training or hobbies were found to be associated with high levels of anxiety, depression and psychological morbidity” (Cooper & Berwick, 2001, p. 169).

“Based on the analysis of data obtained from 276 adult felons confined in a maximum security institution, the analysis clearly shows that adaptations to imprisonment are in part attributable to such extraprison influences as… frequency of contacts with individuals in the free society, and quality of the inmates’ perceptions of their post-prison life chances” (Thomas & Foster, 1973, p. 226).

“The loss of contact with the outside, on the other hand, becomes pronounced after about a year away from home. The evidence supporting this comes from the autobiographies of former inmates and the drop in letter writing and visiting by relatives after a one year period” (Sommer & Osmond, 1969, p. 254).

“…incarceration frequently isolates the inmate from the larger community, thereby minimizing his exposure to “legitimate” influences…” (Waldo, Chiricos, & Dobrin, 1973, p. 354).

“I had first heard about Myrtie Howell from an inmate in a New Hampshire prison when he wrote to ask those of us at Prison Fellowship headquarters to join in prayers for her health. The Fellowship had matched this man and Mrs. Howell up as pen-pals, something we do with thousands of inmates and volunteers. ‘Please pray for Grandma Howell,’ he pleaded in a childlike scrawl, ‘cause she’s sick and may be going to die. Nobody has ever loved me like she has. I just wait for her letters, they means so much.’” (Colson, 1985, p. 12)

 

The Florida Department of Correction recognized the importance of social connections in Rule 33-5.006(7), stating, “Inmate visits with approved family members or friends should be encouraged for the positive purpose of maintaining home and community ties, which after release should provide a deterrent to recidivism” (Florida House of Representatives, 1998, p. 14).

“Currently, released prisoners encounter few resources to help them secure employment, access substance-abuse treatment, and reestablish family and community ties. The combination of these pre-release preparations coupled with follow-up on the outside (via parole, nonprofit community organizations, faith institutions, family, or friends) might reduce the risk of recidivism or drug relapse and improve the odds of successful reintegration after release” (Travis, Solomon, & Waul, 2001, p. 24).

“The findings suggest that prison communication policies are becoming more restrictive on visitation and inmates are assuming more of the expenses for correspondence. At the same time, policies regarding telephone usage seem to have gotten more lenient, with the financial obligations falling solely on the inmates. These results are informative as many state legislatures are becoming increasingly attentive to strategies that might reinforce inmate relationships with family and friends to reduce recidivism rates, lessening the financial strain of incarceration on state budgets” (Hoffman, Dickinson, & Dunn, 2007, p. 47).

“High rates of recidivism, shrinking state revenues, and burgeoning prison populations have made facilitating successful prisoner re-entry a central priority for federal and state governments. This was exemplified in President George W. Bush’s 2004 State of the Union address, in which he called for a renewed effort to reduce barriers to social integration for men and women leaving correctional facilities. This has translated into state and federal efforts to fund demonstration projects of community and faith-based organizations that strive to integrate ex-prisoners back into the community” (Hoffman, Dickinson, & Dunn, 2007, p. 47).

“Facilitating prisoners’ contact with friends and family members while incarcerated—through prison visitation, telephone and mail correspondence, and conjugal visits and home furloughs—has long been suggested as one means for improving prisoners’ behavior while incarcerated. In addition, the contact has been suggested as decreasing the likelihood that prisoners will be rearrested and returned to prison after release” (Hoffman, Dickinson, & Dunn, 2007, p. 47).

“There are a number of explanations why maintaining the inmate’s connection with family and friends will improve behavior while incarcerated and reduce recidivism after the inmate’s release. First, it has been suggested that continued contact with friends and family serves as a counterforce to prison institutionalization” (Hoffman, Dickinson, & Dunn, 2007, p. 48).

“The literature on women offenders reveals that particular types of resources from personal networks prevent recidivism” (Bui & Morash, 2001, p. 4).

Key findings from a 2011 study by the Minnesota Department of Corrections (2011) emphasized the importance of positive communication, especially with regard to visitation, stating that: “1) Offenders who were visited in prison were significantly less likely to recidivate (The reductions in recidivism were: 13 percent for a felony reconviction; 25 for reincarceration for a technical violation revocation); 2)Nearly 40 percent of the offenders were not visited once while in prison; 3) Visits from siblings, in-laws, fathers and clergy were the most beneficial in lowering recidivism; 4) The frequency with which inmates were visited had a significant effect on recidivism (Inmates visited more often were less likely to recidivate.); 5) Visits closer to an offender’s release date had a greater impact on reducing recidivism; 6) The larger an offender’s social support system, the lower the risk for recidivism; 7) The total number of different individual visitors an offender had was significantly associated with less recidivism” (Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2011, p. 1).

 

“Returning prisoners who were employed after release relied largely on personal connections—family, friends, former employers—to find their jobs. Social connections that are maintained during the period of incarceration can be an important resource in helping released prisoners achieve positive postrelease outcomes” (Visher et al., 2004, p. 2).

"[E]mployment—an essential aspect of becoming a responsible member of society—is the single most important concern for returned inmates. Over seventy-five percent of inmates in one study said that finding employment would help keep them out of prison. (Kim, 2009, p. 461).

“This study documented a few key hurdles to successful reintegration—namely, finding a job, finding housing, and getting access to needed health care services. Most returning prisoners who found a job within the first month following their release were either re-hired by former employers or had help from family or friends. Relatively few found new jobs on their own, often because they lacked the skills to conduct an effective job search or could not find employers who would hire ex-offenders. Few parolees reported receiving help from their parole officers” (Travis, Solomon, & Waul, 2001, p. 26).

“Returning prisoners who indicated that their families or friends were supportive of their efforts to rebuild their lives had lower levels of drug use, greater likelihood of finding a job, and less continued criminal activity” (Travis, Solomon, & Waul, 2001, p. 26).

“Women’s network relationships can create opportunities for meeting needs through direct assistance from network members and can provide access and information useful in obtaining resources and assistance elsewhere” (Bui & Morash, 2010, p. 3).

“By giving access to resources, networks have important effects on employment, earnings, education and skills, and mental health. Strong ties, which play an important role in emotional well being, occur within intimate relationships in small and closed social circles, such as family members, relatives, and close friends who can provide intense, multistranded forms of support” (Bui & Morash, 2010, p. 3).

“Because most prisoners descend from impoverished neighborhoods that are riddled with crime and drug use, those communities may be less able to provide the types of social capital (e.g., good-paying jobs in a legal vocation) necessary to facilitate the prisoners’ successful re-entry into the community. However, these networks may nonetheless offer more practical forms of support to the inmate after release such as housing, money, and clothing and encourage the ex-inmate to participate in rehabilitation and training programs. Because the inmate typically leaves prison with a bus ticket, a department of corrections identification card, and no home of his or her own, it seems logical that having ties with his or her family and friends while incarcerated—assuming this social network was not a source of his or her criminal involvement—will provide the ex-prisoner with some of the forms of social and economic capital he or she will need” (Hoffman, Dickinson, & Dunn, 2007, p. 49).

 

“…the public seems to recognize the need for prisons to be productive… Taxpayers want institutions which are humane and seek to improve inmates during their incarceration” (Applegate, 2001, p. 266).

“Based on data from 554 Kentucky Department of Corrections staff members, results show that correctional staffers tend to have favorable views regarding the presence of prison amenities. Furthermore, analyses of patterns and trends across types of jobs, experience, and educational attainment show that prison staffers are accepting of most particular amenities” (Tewksbury & Mustaine, 2005, p. 174).

"Political discourse and media stereotypes often mask the reality of prison life for the general public. Based on these skewed account, inmates are often thought of as "kicking back in the rec room La-Z-Boys with a pack of Marlboros and the remote control, surfing the facility's hundreds of cable channels beamed via satellite" (Wunder, 1995, p. 5). Because of overcrowding and fiscal concerns, inmate privileges have been on the decrease over the past several years." (Hensley et al., 2003, p. 250)

"Some of today's criminal justice students may become tomorrow's leaders in the corrections industry. As a result, it is important to take note of their current attitudes toward correctional issues and the realities of prison life. Although significant attititudinal differences did not emerge between criminal justice students and their counterparts in other majors, a great deal can be understood from these findings. The present findings generally support recent examinations of societal perceptions of inmate privileges (Applegate, 2001; Lenz, 2002). As with the general public, students had somewhat neutral views of prison amenities, especially those that one might view as "comforts" to the daily functioning of inmate life. In addition, students were also more likely to favor programs seen as rehabilitive, which again coincides with the general public view. As Applegate (2001, p. 266) stated, "retaining certain programs, services, and privileges...is unlikely to result in public outcry." It is important to understand both the general public and student perceptions of inmate privileges before throwing out the baby with the bath water." (Hensley et al., 2003, p. 261)

 

“Corresponding with an HIV-positive inmate can make a huge different in that person's life, and in your own. The rewards are immediate. Spiritual satisfaction is guaranteed. One nonincarcerated participant explains the experience as, "so rewarding. I have two prison pen-pals and they have truly enriched my life. It's amazing how a page or two can have such a profound effect on my life and the life of my pen-pal. I wait anxiously for my next letter and I know my friend does too. Dealing with my virus, here in freedom, seems less troublesome when I read about the lives of my friends in captivity” (Whittier, 1999, p. 17).

“Writing to inmates has filled my last days with joy.” (Myrtie Howell quoted by Colson, 1985, p. 12)

"I read hundreds of inmates' letters each month; in their expressions I see a side of life I had never been exposed to, suffering and pain I can't even imagine - usually left to suffer alone: death of loved ones, sickness, abuse, and so many regrets..." (Michael, 2009, p. 271 )

 

“One cannot fully understand the therapeutic effects one receives from correspondence with his or her peers on the outside.” (M.J., Hagerstown, MD)

“In here a friend's letter is worth more than gold. Although I'm surrounded by people 24 hours a day, I often feel as if I'm here alone.” (Q.B., Reidsville, GA)

“Mail is the only thing to look forward to in here...” (J.S., Camp Lejeune, NC)

“I've been in for quite some time now, 10 years to be exact, and it has been so lonely. My heart aches to care again, and I long to know that someone cares for me.” (T.V., Fox Lake, WI)

“At this very moment while you are reading this, I am trapped in my concrete cell wishing and hoping and praying that you'll decide to write me. I am extremely lonely and I need friends.” (W.E., Atmore, AL)

“I’ve been down for 15 years on a life sentence for murder robbery that I committed when I was 18. At that time of my life I was very confused and used drugs and alcohol, trying to find myself. Because of all the choices I made, all those years ago, I have spent my adult life in prison. Aside from the few family members I have left, I have had little contact with the streets and would like to meet someone who won't pre-judge me because of where I am and for the mistakes I made. I deserve to be in prison for what I did, but I am no longer the same person who did those things.” (T.Y., Hagerstown, MD)

“Prison has taught me the true meaning of loneliness - what it means to be separated from everything that's real... My struggle is not to become a product of this environment...” (G.S., Malone, FL)

“Yes, I'm in prison, and yes, I'm guilty. I think I've paid my debt to society and definitely have a new attitude and outlook on life! I need new friends and a new environment to start my life anew.” (T.W., Lake City, FL)

“It gets lonely in here at times. I thought I had a lot of friends. But when something bad happens, like going to prison, you come to realize those so-called "friends" weren't friends at all…” (F.P., Long Beach, CA)

“Nobody cares. You should see the faces of the hundreds of men who wait expectantly day after day at mail-call…” (H.W., Atmore, AL)

“I committed a costly mistake as a teenager which consequently led to my incarceration, and now my loneliness has become a prison within a prison.” (L.C., Raiford, FL)

"The worst solitude is to be destitute of a sincere friendship!" (R.L., Raiford, FL)

“I'm terribly lonely. Whenever the mailman passes my door, which is often, my heart sinks to new lows.” (R.V., Coalinga, CA)

“Throughout my life I've endured much, and have learned how to adapt and deal with most of it, but learning how to master loneliness has always found a way to elude me.” (M.W., Jackson, GA)

“My friends and family outside of prison have all disappeared. Everyday is a struggle to retain an ounce of dignity. I don't seek pity. I ask you to remember that prison is a very lonely place. Having someone willing to listen, confide in and be an outside source of strength will help to make prison life bearable.” (T.C., Shakopee, MN)

“Prison has taught me to never take things for granted, and that, for me, starts with people, and real friendship. I am striving towards getting myself back in the real world and I could sure handle meeting some positive people on the right side of the fence ("the real world") to help me stay positive.” (D.C., Crestview, FL)

“...year after year the letters dwindle to zero, and I am thinking, 'Sure would enjoy a shout at mail call today'...” (L.J., Manchester, KY)

“I often sit in this empty cell and reflect on life - life inside of these walls, life outside of these walls, and I fight the impossible battle of trying to figure out exactly where it is that I fit in. The fact, plain and simple, is that I need a friend to help me bridge this gap...” (W.L., Ely, NV)

“I'm in a place where friends are hard to come by... I thought I could do time by myself, but I was wrong, so now I'm reaching out in the hope of finding someone who can take away the loneliness.” (F.P., Ely, NV)

“I refuse to accept this graveyard of broken promises and rusting dreams as a way of acceptable life for myself... and as I stand looking out through these bars, again I feel the loneliness and frustrations which are the constant companions of men inside these walls. Just another nameless statistic?” (L.S., Corcoran, CA)

“Despair, disappointment, anger, frustration, hopelessness and heartache wake us up in the morning and put us to sleep at night. We have become the forgotten, the faceless, the overlooked, the unwanted, and the unloved.” (H.S., White Deer, PA)

“Corresponding helps me shrug off the dark mood of despair which threatens to beset my spirit.” (A.M., Raiford, FL)

“If it wasn't for WriteAPrisoner.com, I would not have a life to go out to when my time is up here...” (G.G., Manchester, KY)

“I received an email forward from someone very important in my life who I haven't heard from or seen in years (and I do mean years) - and this email was from my father. He found me on your site and I am so spellbound that I still haven't found the words to respond to it.” (R.A., Rahway, NJ)

“I wanted to thank you and all who helps us that are locked down reach out and be able to feel life a little more though your site.” (U.W., Ione, CA)

“I've 2 pen-pals now and it has been good to get mail from positive people.” (V.T., Soledad, CA)

“Thank you. It doesn't even cover the gratitude I feel for all that we've accomplished together these last years. You have been an invaluable resource. I can honestly say that I don't know where I would be today without you. So, thank you indeed! I have received your notification of ad termination and I must say, it's like saying goodbye to an old friend. I'm going to miss you. I find myself in a position that I have long strived for - namely: I'M GOING HOME!!! :)” (T.D., Ione, CA)

“Thank you so much for your positive and uplifting influence in my life. You have helped me become a better, happier person. You are so appreciated!” (V.G., Pocatello, ID)

“I greatly appreciate everything that your company has done for me and for the mail that has been coming in. Unfortunately I have to ask that you guys please remove my whole ad and photos from the website. I have found one friend that I want to continue writing throughout the remainder of my sentence. I will continue to tell other inmates and friends about the good business y'all provide and will most definitely send them to your website so that they are able to find some positive friends that will help them change for the better.” (M.C., Huntsville, TX)

“I would like to thank you very much for helping me connect with the world. Because of your program, I've met two very nice people who really care about my situation and have treated me like a human being and a person instead of a dog in a cage.” (D.M., Corcoran, CA)

“Thank you for making my life almost worth living.” (C.A., Corcoran, CA)

“I would appreciate you ending my ad as soon as you can :) It has been great and did exactly what I was hoping it would do - found me a great friend! She is keeping me pretty busy in the letter writing department, and I don't want to be the cause of some other prisoners missing out on what I've got - a great friend!” (L.C., Graterford, PA)

“Your web-site does miracles for us lonely guys. Thank you very much and Merry Christmas.” (J.T., New Boston, TX)

“Living one's life in prison is a very unpleasant thing whether a person is actually guilty or innocent of whatever offence(s) that they've been alleged to have committed.
Some of us have loving and caring family members who give that needed support to help us cope with the storms within our incarceration, and some of us don't, but everyone needs a friend…For corruption, hatred, ignorance, sin, crime and violence is everywhere in this world no matter where we are. But even more so in prisons which is a totally different world… However, there are some truly caring people in this world. For there are no words that can express how good it feels to know that there is someone who cares.” (D.S., Angola, LA)

“I was going to write earlier but I wanted to make sure that I am leaving. On March 23, 2009 I am going to be released from prison. So you can go ahead and remove my profile. I want to also thank you for your service. Because of you, I have made many new friends which has made my time here much easier. The best part is because of your service, I now have a wonderful job awaiting me when I get out.” (T.G., Hawkinsville, GA)

“Having someone to write to and talk to in prison can make all the difference in the world.” (D.P., Schuykill, PA)

 

“I would truly like to thank you! My son is a prisoner of New York State. He has met some good people who are trying to help him.” (Mom in NY)

“I just wanted you to know that I've been involved with your pen-pal program for a couple of months now...and it has been one of the most uplifting experiences I've ever had. I currently write to three different inmates and recently opted to add two more to the fold! Each person is unique; each has his own story to share. What's most important for those of us on the outside to remember is that we benefit as much, if not more as the souls that are behind walls. I am very happy that I was watching television at the precise moment your program was being featured. I really feel as though it was God calling my attention to a wonderful opportunity to do something compassionate and caring for someone else - I'm happy I heeded the call. Thanks to all of you for creating this program. It's just awesome, and I feel so privileged to have discovered it. God Bless you all and continued success in your endeavors.” (A.S.)

“I think you guys are doing a FANTASTIC JOB in trying to put some hope in people’s lives for real! I just got out of prison myself, and I'm writing a lady as we speak I got from your web site. I will VOLUNTEER if you guys need any help.” (Mike in MO)

“I am on your site and got out. I have nothing but words of praise for your site. I am going to try and write someone to give back.” (Jeremy in TX)

"I would love to post this on your website. I wanted to say what a great service you offer to inmates. I started my writing my inmate several months ago. She is the one that sent in a letter to you, WriteAPrisoner.com, thanking you for your service and what a difference our friendship has made in her life. Her name is W.P. at Leath Correctional. You should have received her thank you letter by now. The best way I could share why this is such an important thing to do for another human being is the message in the short story below: An old man awoke just before sunrise, as he often did, to walk by the ocean's edge and greet the new day. As he moved through the morning dawn, he focused on a faint, far away motion. He saw a youth, bending and reaching and flailing arms, dancing on the beach, no doubt in celebration of the perfect day soon to begin. As the old man approached, he realized that the youth was not dancing to the bay, but rather bending to sift through the debris left by the night's tide, stopping now and then to pick up starfish and then standing up to heave them back into the sea. He asked the youth the purpose of the effort. "The tide has washed the starfish onto the beach and they cannot return to the sea by themselves," the youth replied. "When the
sun rises, they will die unless I throw them back into the sea." The old man surveyed the vast expanse of beach that stretched in both directions beyond eyesight. Starfish littered the shore in numbers beyond calculation. The hopelessness of the youth's plan became clear and the old man said, "But young man, don't you realize that there are more starfish on this beach than you could ever save before the sun is up? You cannot possibly expect to make a difference!" The youth paused briefly to consider the old man's words. He then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it as far as possible into the sea. Turning to the old man, he said, "I made a difference to that one!" ~ Author Unknown ~ I feel like the little boy in this story. The world is the skeptical old man. The starfish is my friend W.P. That is how society can make a difference. One person who believes they can make a difference to one person who needs them to survive. She's a great friend and a faithful penpal and I'm glad I met her through your service. WriteAPrisoner.com is truly a special ministry to forgotten souls who need a friend in their lives to encourage them and simply to care. Some are so alone and desperately need love and friendship. People aren't DISPOSABLE because they are in prison, and not every person in prison is guilty. I hope more people will "take a chance" on a stranded little starfish on the shore and "make a difference" in their lives." (M.D. in Virginia Beach, VA)

* Because some released inmates were finding their names on our site, we have elected to use only initials of inmates on the site (excluding active profiles) to help minimize the stigma of having been incarcerated. In accordance with Federal Trade Commission guidelines, we still retain all original testimonials featured on the site should they ever be called into question or summoned by a court of law.