Post by scotkaz on Jun 15, 2006 10:21:46 GMT -5
Dear All,
Prisonersolidarity publishes social and political essays written by
prisoners
(and former inmates and prison advocacy writers as well). If you've enjoyed
an inmate's essay, we encourage you to write and send feedback to
the prisoner who wrote it. He/she would definitely appreciate your mail.
We've recently added a website list of tips for writing to prisoners.I've
posted a copy of the tips here, below. Past Prisonersolidarity essays have
been archived in our website commentary section.
regards,
Angela
Tips for Writing to Prisoners
www.prisonersolidarity.org/TipsForWritingPrisoners.htm
1. Prison life is a boring place and any news, whether from a person they
know or not, is generally welcome. On the whole a letter is the brightest
point of the day for most prisoners.
2. Make sure that your letter has a return address (some prisons require
this). So that the prisoner (who often has very limited financial resources)
can reply to you, include a pre-embossed stamped envelope. Pre-stamped
envelopes can be purchased from the post office (envelopes with regular
adhesive stamps are often not permitted). You may not be writing to a lifer,
but a parolee who is due to be released in the near future. For privacy
purposes, use a return address that is not your home address. Setting up a
P.O. box at the post office is an easy and relatively inexpensive procedure.
You may also wish to use a work address.
3. When writing for the first time, say who you are and say where you heard
about the prisoner and/or their case. Keep your first letter reasonably
short and to the point. It is best not to overwhelm people. Be prepared to
respond in a timely fashion and to continue the correspondence for at least
six months. However, don't give anything or make any commitments that you
feel uncomfortable. Trust your intuition. Remember that a prisoner's mail is
screened. Don't write about anything that is likely to get your pen pal in
trouble.
4. Do not use staples or paper clips. Do not send cash, stamps, or
Polaroids. Letters containing them may not be accepted by prison officials.
Don't send money or honor immediate requests for money. You may wish to send
books or magazines. Before mailing such material you should learn about the
prison's package receipt policy. Ohio prisoners may only receive books that
are sent directly from a book store or publishing house, for example.
5. Your pen-pal is a life-sized person, no bigger and no smaller. A great
challenge of a pen-pal relationship is to be understanding, without
supporting or reinforcing each other's self-delusions and vanities. Remember
that everyone in the "free world" faces problems and challenges, too. It is
really true that we are all doing time in one way or another, so both of you
can try to help each other see and dismantle those prisons of mind-which are
far more limiting that any prisons of bars and steel.
If you would like to write a prisoner and need help finding the right
person, we would be happy to assist you. Please contact one of the
individuals below for help in finding the right pen-pal match:
Kunta Kenyatta, CURE-Ohio, 1834 Grace Avenue NE, Canton, OH 44705. Email:
kkenyatta05@sprintpcs.com
Angela Jancius, Prisonersolidarity, PO Box 2184, Youngstown, OH 44504.
Email: acjancius@ysu.edu
__._,_.___
Prisonersolidarity publishes social and political essays written by
prisoners
(and former inmates and prison advocacy writers as well). If you've enjoyed
an inmate's essay, we encourage you to write and send feedback to
the prisoner who wrote it. He/she would definitely appreciate your mail.
We've recently added a website list of tips for writing to prisoners.I've
posted a copy of the tips here, below. Past Prisonersolidarity essays have
been archived in our website commentary section.
regards,
Angela
Tips for Writing to Prisoners
www.prisonersolidarity.org/TipsForWritingPrisoners.htm
1. Prison life is a boring place and any news, whether from a person they
know or not, is generally welcome. On the whole a letter is the brightest
point of the day for most prisoners.
2. Make sure that your letter has a return address (some prisons require
this). So that the prisoner (who often has very limited financial resources)
can reply to you, include a pre-embossed stamped envelope. Pre-stamped
envelopes can be purchased from the post office (envelopes with regular
adhesive stamps are often not permitted). You may not be writing to a lifer,
but a parolee who is due to be released in the near future. For privacy
purposes, use a return address that is not your home address. Setting up a
P.O. box at the post office is an easy and relatively inexpensive procedure.
You may also wish to use a work address.
3. When writing for the first time, say who you are and say where you heard
about the prisoner and/or their case. Keep your first letter reasonably
short and to the point. It is best not to overwhelm people. Be prepared to
respond in a timely fashion and to continue the correspondence for at least
six months. However, don't give anything or make any commitments that you
feel uncomfortable. Trust your intuition. Remember that a prisoner's mail is
screened. Don't write about anything that is likely to get your pen pal in
trouble.
4. Do not use staples or paper clips. Do not send cash, stamps, or
Polaroids. Letters containing them may not be accepted by prison officials.
Don't send money or honor immediate requests for money. You may wish to send
books or magazines. Before mailing such material you should learn about the
prison's package receipt policy. Ohio prisoners may only receive books that
are sent directly from a book store or publishing house, for example.
5. Your pen-pal is a life-sized person, no bigger and no smaller. A great
challenge of a pen-pal relationship is to be understanding, without
supporting or reinforcing each other's self-delusions and vanities. Remember
that everyone in the "free world" faces problems and challenges, too. It is
really true that we are all doing time in one way or another, so both of you
can try to help each other see and dismantle those prisons of mind-which are
far more limiting that any prisons of bars and steel.
If you would like to write a prisoner and need help finding the right
person, we would be happy to assist you. Please contact one of the
individuals below for help in finding the right pen-pal match:
Kunta Kenyatta, CURE-Ohio, 1834 Grace Avenue NE, Canton, OH 44705. Email:
kkenyatta05@sprintpcs.com
Angela Jancius, Prisonersolidarity, PO Box 2184, Youngstown, OH 44504.
Email: acjancius@ysu.edu
__._,_.___