UPDATED: Ideas for Writing to People in Prison or Jail

Posted on by

Regular, supportive contact with an inmate is a key recovery success factor. I remember getting letters from a penpal when I was in elementary school and how excited it would be. Now, imagine you are locked in a cell 20+ hours a day with only a handful of people to talk to for weeks or months on end. Talking to someone on the outside can certainly keep your hopes up.

This article was originally published on 5/10/22 and updated on 6/29/22 with updated information and resources including using a third-party service.

Different facilities have different rules for writing a letter to an inmate/prisoner. These rules can range from the content allowed to the paper used. For example, a corrections facility may decide that letters are limited to five pages, must be single sided on 8.5 x 11 paper, and printed in black or blue ink or graphite pencil. Keep in mind the inmate will not receive the original letter but a photocopy. This is done because some senders may lace the paper with illegal substances.

Writing to an Inmate – Tips

  1. Assume everything you write and that they might write back will be read and monitored by an experienced corrections officer. Don’t try and pass any “secret coded” messages as the correction officer will be trained in identifying such content. Both the sender and the recipient will face consequences.
  2. Don’t send prohibited materials such as photos, drawings, or cards. If the content cannot fit through a scanner’s automatic document feeder, it will likely be discarded.
  3. It may seem counterproductive (and it is), but don’t send stamps or envelopes. Find out how the inmate can purchase their own and consider funding that purchase. Sending stamps and envelopes to most correctional facilities is prohibited and will get your entire submission returned or discarded.
  4. Make a copy of everything you send in case it gets lost in the mail processing system. inmates are moved from location to location and their mail rarely catches up to them.
  5. Consider discussing if there are any topics that should not be discussed via mail or phone with your attorney. Certainly, any details about an upcoming court appearance beyond logistics should be avoided. Letters and calls are monitored and anything you write or say can be used against the inmate, and in some cases you.

What to include in letters

When writing a letter, always encourage the inmate to reply or communicate with others using the following example lines:

  • ______ asked how you are doing and wanted you to know the yare thinking about you.
  • I attended a support group meeting of (S-Anon, Al-Anon, Narc-anon, etc.) because I know you want me to take care of myself, and those meetings help me better relate to your recovery.
  • I heard from ________ and they said they would love to hear from you. Their address to send a letter is ______.
  • I’m taking time to relax with a (new book/tv show/hobby/project). What I am finding challenging is ____ and what I enjoy the most is ____.
  • It was so wonderful to (visit with/talk to/get a letter from) you! I was excited to learn about ____. Also I’m sorry you’re having to deal with____. I am praying for you.
  • I found some printable puzzles online (word search/sudoku) and thought you might like some, so here they are enclosed!
  • When you write back, tell us all about your daily routine / the people you interact with.

If you are looking to write to a prisoner and don’t know any personally, there are a variety of prison penpal programs. If you are personally involved in a 12-step program, many can connect you with a prisoner who is also in that program. These include:

Using an Electronic Messaging Service

Many institutions have an electronic messaging service. This is not e-mail as it is a closed system. To send and receive messages, you will need to set up a paid account and log in regularly to check and send messages. Messages cannot be forwarded outside of the system. Frequently, inmates will need their own account and to have money placed on it to send messages in reply.

Using a Third Party Service for Postal Mail

Jonathan writes, “I have a friend that was serving state time and I wrote to him via DocuPost. He had no problem receiving the letters I had written him through the online service. Great service!”

This may be a great option for writing letters to inmates as it costs a bit extra than a standard letter but saves time and ensures letters will arrive using the correct paper and ink.