How many inmates can I write to?

Hi there, I don't think there's a limit. I am sure you can write to as many inmates as you want to :) 

Actually, there is no limit to people you can contact. I think the only two points you should consider are: 1. Have the economic resources to send letters to all those who respond to your messages, and 2. Have enough time to dedicate to your new friends. If your occupations at work, at school, etc., are many, maybe you should evaluate if you can respond regularly to, for example, 5 inmates or only 2.

If you use the email service of WAP there actually IS a limit: 5 per month.

But since you can use it only for initial contact, PGG is right, decide what you can afford, both economically & emotionally.

Thank you guys for your input! I have to say that I never really considered the emotional side of things, but yes that makes sense. I think I’ll just wait and see if my inmate responds to the initial email, but if he doesn’t I’ll write to another! I’m thinking at the most maybe I’ll be able to handle 2 or 3! Thanks again! 

Just keep in mind to not have 2 pen-pals on the same prison; you can have as many pen-pals as you want, but you can have only 1 per prison.

Thank you, yes I’ll keep that in mind! 

Sorry just to clarify, could I write to an inmate at a different prison but in the same state as my first one? Or do I have to write one in a completely different state? Thanks! 

You could try the same state, but I'd not reccommend doing it. Inmates can get transferred from one facility to another & itt will stir up trouble if they would by chance end up in the same facility & found out having the same penpal.

Oh I didn’t know it could cause trouble! Even if it’s just a friendship and not a romantic relationship? Thanks for the advice! 

There is no limit.  You are only limited by the amount of time you have. 

It is common to send a letter and receive no response.  Or to receive one response and never hear back again.  I have written to 20 different women and only got regular correspondence from 7.

Oh damn, that’s a little disheartening to hear! I might as well write to a few more then! It’s a bit hard though because I haven’t really found any profiles that have really resonated with me - aside from the the first inmates that I wrote to, so fingers crossed he responds and we can get something going! Thanks for the advice and for sharing your experience mate

Cleo, guys will more probably get back to you than girls will get back to men- simply because fewer incarcerated women are getting more mail. That's just the maths.

Plus, yes, it might cause trouble "even if it's only friendship". Let me try to explain why.

The letters they get are property in there. Some ppl don't have contacts with friends or family. So, not only the letters you write them are theirs, in a way, your friendship/care/companionship is as well.

I remember quite a funny scene of of my pp described to me lately.

To give you just a little background info: Her's in a reentry management facility in IL and is about to be released in a few months. "A butterfly in a greenhouse waiting for the windows to be opened to explored this great, big world, as it has changed while I was away. But I changed, too. Catarpillar became a butterfly." His words, not mine.

A few weeks ago there was coming a new guy into the unit. After a short while they discovered they'd known each other as kids, but didn't meet for quite a # of years.

Then my pp got a letter at mail call- from me. His found again childhood pal was ever so curious about the who, what, whereabouts. (I understand that fully, I guess, I'd be as well.) He was very eager to know who I am, how we "met", how long we've been writing, etc.

Then the new guy half jokingly remarked if my pp got out, he could ask me if I'd be willing to write to him instead.

They got into a squabble over that, because my pp found it absolutely indiscussable to just "pass you on like a second hand thing." 

He knows that I'm writing to other prisoners as well & he never complained about that. "I'm not that kind of guy & besides, anyone can have as many friends as s/he likes". But sharing my attention, my letters or friendship with someone in the same unit (even though he knows that guy and they usually get on well with each other) that's a big no-no for him. 

[quote]Cleo, guys will more probably get back to you than girls will get back to men- simply because fewer incarcerated women are getting more mail. That's just the maths.[/quote]

Yes Kirsten is right about this.  I hadn't considered that.  I think female prisoners also get more mail than men.  For one thing, they get a lot of letters from pervy guys who want sexual letters and phone calls.

Now that you mention it, yes I guess that makes sense! Your pen pal sounds like a wonderful writer and he seems to be very protective, which makes sense. Thanks for sharing that story, it got a chuckle out of me but, it does make me feel a tad sad that some inmates have literally no one on the outside caring for them though. I mean I know they’re in prison for a reason, but I still feel an immense amount of sympathy for them and sometimes I feel guilty for feeling that way.

I think I’ll take your advice and write to inmates in other states, I don’t want to cause any issues haha. Thanks! 

Gosh that sounds like a pain to deal with! Do you think female inmates would be willing to respond to more female or male writers? I’m thinking of writing to one, but I don’t know if she’d prefer a man instead! 

He makes me smile often, Cleo. :-) Was the first one I wrote to & who replied to me - and we had a good start. Even later it was without any major conflicts or upheavels. He's planning to stay in contact and from the way I got to know him he never gave me a reason to doubt his word.

Protective? Yeah, I guess, he is - or at least he can be if he wants to be. But you'll probably see that many guys are protective - and caring in their own way. Part of their code of conduct.

As for feeling guilty for sympathizing: If you feel that way, you've probably got a few ppl around you who choose the "lock them up and throw away the key" attitude. Others wouldn't make you feel guilty if you felt different. 

Cleo, feeling compassion for someone in prison doesn't mean to condone what s/he did.

Good luck in choosing your own pals & happy writing.

Kirsten   

Thanks, Kirsten :) I’m keen to start!

Thanks, Kirsten :) I’m keen to start!

Cleo if u need someone to talk to u can write me. I know I'm not incarcerated