Prison Pen Pals
Inmates who are incarcerated have a lot of extra time on their hands. They enjoy contact with the outside world, and often choose to be pen pals. Why would anyone want to be pen pals with an inmate? There are lonely people in this world that can easily be drawn in they their personality and quick response. Others want all inmates to have the opportunity to receive mail, so they do it to encourage them to change while incarcerated to the opportunity at a life again.
You need to be careful with such endeavors. Do not reveal too much information about yourself including where you life. While some inmates might just want friendship, you need to remember that they are in prison for a reason. You should research the information regarding their sentence before you make such a choice. Inmates have been known to scam people out of their entire life savings while behind bars. Some people only become pen pals with those on death row as a way of offering them support, but knowing that they will never be released from the facility.
Many marriages take place after a man and women begin writing to each other, even though one of them is behind bars. While this may sound strange to most of us, many people who find themselves in this situation state they got married because they have found their soul mate, someone who truly understands them. Prisons monitor all mail that comes into the facility, however they do not read mail that is sent out. Therefore, if you receive any kind of correspondence from an inmate that is not acceptable you need to report it immediately.
Parents should carefully inspect all mail for their children as well. It is very easy for young people to be influenced, and they may become pen pals with inmates without your knowledge. Most prison facilities have the prison information carefully stamped on the envelopes, but not always. It is best to be prepared as well as discuss the dangers that such correspondence opens up for them.
