I think someone posted that they have only received about a 50 percent response rate from WAP ads.
I currently have 6 penpals, and have found most of them in an untraditioanl way. My first penpal was a high profile inmate featured on 48 hours. We wrote for a year on JPAY until her conviction was overturned on appeal, and she was transferred back to the county Jail.
I found one of my PENPALS here on WAP, but the rest were just random letters to inmates I found on various state State DOC sites. In one instance I wrote a random letter to an inmate, and recieved a very nice letter from another inmate. She said that "Jessica" was getting released within days, and passed my letter on to her! Some states have better search criteria than others. Some include pictures - others don't. It has been fun doing inmate searches directly from the State's DOC website. Everybody can use a freind, right?
Has anybody else found a PenPal in a similiar fashion?
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I wrote to one of the prisoners from the TV show Love After Lockup. She returned to prison after the filming ended. She wrote back once and called me too, but that's about it. Dunno if this will be an ongoing thing.
Penpal wise, for sites, I only use WAP. I've been writing as a penpal for almost 7 years now, so I've written to a fair few in that time, some of which have come and gone. This is a part of pen pal correspondence, not everyone will stick around, the people who do generally tend to be most worth it. My main and best pen pal whom I write the most to and share the most with, and to each other we write most consistently, was found here. I also found another good one recently, which I posted about in the Smoan thread some weeks ago. So, two from here. Main pp and I are 4 years, new WAP pp just started.
I also have two from the show Beyond Scared Straight. I've written four inmates altogether off that show (different states), one I wrote for 2 and a half years before she was released in 2016, one I caught lying about the most basic things from the start and also trying to guilt trip me into sending money and other things, so I'm kinda glad that didn't last, but I do have one male and one female penpal from that show who both seem very down to earth and genuine and I hope both of them last.
I've never written to people solely on the basis of searching for them on DOC sites. I wouldn't feel comfortable doing that. I have heard of others doing that and finding good penpals, but I personally would need more information that a DOC profile doesn't give, at least to see them on a show or read about them on a profile. I think this strategy works good for those who aren't selective about who they write, but I have certain things I want to see or get a feel for before committing to writing anyone.
Are you in the US, JavaDude? Searching via the DOC website could definitely be an interesting way of finding penpals, though I prefer using WAP for that initial contact. As I'm in Australia, I don't want to be wasting considerable money on postage costs writing to people who may or may not want to write back - that 50% response ad you mentioned isn't worth the gamble for those outside the US Haha
I’ve only ever found pen pals via WAP.
I like the idea of just searching DOC websites, kind of a lucky dip! But as GalapagosDiver says, it’s not so ideal for those of us who are overseas.
I've only written to penpals on WAP. Personally I don't think I'll ever do that because I would worry that I am writing to someone who doesn't welcome mail from a stranger. The inmates who post their profile on WAP are actively seeking penpals and are looking forward to receiving correspondance, so I am comfortable that they know what to expect.
I'm glad you've had positive responses writing to inmates that you find on a state DOC website. I know that not all states allow inmates to have penpal profiles so having someone write them anyway must be a God send. Do they ask you how you found them and why you decided to write them?
That’s true that not all states allow penpapls. WAP has males listed from Colorado, but no females. I really wanted to write someone incarcerated in Colorado.
They do ask questions, so I try to explain in my introduction. Most are very appreciative.
My son is incarcerated in connally unit in texas. How do I get women to pen pal him. I have no idea what I am doing here. Hopefully it will be someone in Fort Worth area cause he will be getting out in a couple of years and I am hoping something will come of it with some nice girl.
You could list an ad for him, if you wished. This is of course no guarantee he'll bring a daughter in law to you when he gets home, but he might at least find a friend or two. And what develops from there or not is something no one could know. *wink*
So ask your son whether he'd like to have a penpal. If yes, let him write these 250 words (or write for him about him) submit the form & and money to WAP and off you go.
Good luck!