Why You May Want to Write to Inmates

If you're reading this article, it's because you've either thought about writing inmates for one reason or another, or it's because you can't stand the idea of anyone else doing so and you've just got to see what the author will come up with next.

Regardless if a person does actually deserve to be in prison, and rightfully some do, the goal of having an inmate being able to be positively reintroduced back into society is at the forefront of the prison system agendas. Statistically speaking according to the Universal Review of Prisons provided to the Human Rights Council of the United Nations General Assembly, "It is not unusual for persons who are incarcerated for lengthy periods to lose contact with family members entirely." In another part of the report, it goes on to say that inmates who have regular correspondence with friends and family have a much better chance of successfully being reintroduced back into society.

Getting mail inside the prison walls is a psychological comfort to know that someone outside the environment they live in is thinking of them. Even if it was just long enough to send a card that was purchased on the clearance rack of a national chain grocery or outlet store. It interjects hope back into an environment that seems void of such a thing. It confirms and reminds the inmate that even though they may be living in what is sometimes inhumane conditions, they are a human and at the core of their being, they are valued as a person.

Other individuals may be looking for an avenue of romance. It's the author's personal opinion and even the opinion of well known prisoner pen pal websites that getting into romantic entanglement with any inmate is regarded as unsafe and should be avoided for several reasons. Not every inmate is of sound mental capacity and not every inmate has genuinely good intentions. If this is the reason you want to write inmates, it is advised you do not pursue doing so.

Some who have religious beliefs may wish to share their faith with inmates through letter writing as a means of ministering to the person's soul. The Bureau of Prisons does mandate that each inmate be given access to reasonable accommodations for his or her chosen religion as long as it does not compromise security. Writing letters is a cheap way of answering an inmate's questions about God or other religion of their choice. Over time, through your new found letter writing relationship, you'll be able to interject words of encouragement from faith-based materials to help the inmate in his or her personal growth.

Some individuals, again can't stand the idea of anyone writing to inmates for several reasons. The decision to write or not write inmates is a highly personal choice and should be regarded as such. We all have a past we can't change or run away from. We've all made choices, some worse than others, that we shouldn't have. Imagine if you ended up behind bars, whether you committed the crime or not, and you were abandoned by friends and family and began to suffer the psychological damage that is caused by extended periods of living in a prison facility. Perhaps, just perhaps someone taking an hour or less a month to send you something encouraging in the mail might make a difference in your world and ultimately help shape a brighter future for yourself.

Reference:
Universal Review of Prisons; Universal Review of Prisons; International Cure