Why do prisoners want pen pals?

According to one study from the University of Warwick, the prison pen pal relationship has lots of benefits for inmates. It helps the inmates to boost their well-being. Aside from boosting an inmate’s well-being, it also provides an early warning of potential suicide.

How do prisoners correspond?

The rules about writing prisoners differ from state to state, but some universal ones are:

1. Write the full name of the prisoner.
2. Include the prisoner’s ID number.
3. Write your name and the return address on the envelope and in the letter.
4. Choose the correct envelope size.
5. Don’t put perfume on the letter.

Does writing to prisoners help?

They may develop trust in you if they feel like they are given a free pass to express their innermost feelings. Exchanging letters and befriending a person on the inside can help to boost morale while also helping them to preserve their sanity. Overall, being pen pals with an inmate can be beneficial and uplifting.

Can prisoners write to other prisoners?

Yes, you can write letters to inmates. Every prisoner has the right to receive written messages from their family and friends. The number of letters they can exchange is unlimited in most states. The only exception applies to correspondence between two incarcerated persons.

Can Prisoners send letters?

Do Inmates Have Stamps in Jail? For an inmate to be able to write and send letters to their friends, pen pals, or family members, they need to have paper, pens, envelopes, and stamps—all the necessary writing supplies. Most prisons provide inmates with stationery so that they could send one to two letters a week.

Do prisoners have to pay to send letters?

Prisoners are given a free letter each week to post out (second class), they can send more, but at their own expense. Some prisons allow stamps, envelopes and paper to be sent in. Photographs can be sent in but in some prisons these must not include any image of the prisoner.