1)    A link is provided on our homepage titled “Obtain Information on Inmates”. It lists every state’s Department of Corrections link as well as the Federal Bureau of Prisons website.
Reference: http://writeaprisoner.com/departmentstate.aspx


2)    We provide the following link on our home page titled “Postal Scams To Be Aware Of.” It lists the most commonly known postal scams, and it provides a link directly to the United States Report Postal Fraud form.
Reference: http://www.writeaprisoner.com/postal-scams.aspx


3)    Inmates are expressly forbidden from mentioning anyone by name in their ads, referencing victims, conducting business, or placing ads with adult content. All ads are regulated and edited if necessary before being placed online. 4)    Our Frequently Asked Questions page contains the following questions and answers listed below. The FAQ page is accessible from every page on WriteAPrisoner.com.
References: http://www.writeaprisoner.com/faq.aspx 

5) How can I find out more about the prisoner I am corresponding with?
You can write to the same address as the prisoner's. Just put "Prison Administration" in place of the prisoner's name. Include a letter that explains your inquiry. You can also check by visiting the State Prison Links  and Federal Prison Addresses and Contact Numbers if you wish to write via e-mail.
(Listed under General Questions about WriteAPrisoner.com)

8) An inmate I am writing to has asked for money. Do you have any suggestions?
The institutions provide all basic needs of living to inmates. In most cases, even educational programs are free to inmates. Donating money is a decision that can only be made by you. If the inmate is requesting a donation for something that seems unusual, please contact us before sending money and we will address any concerns you have.
(Listed under Writing Inmates)

9) Why do you post the inmates' crimes on their ad, and is this information verified?
We post the crimes so that pen pals have full disclosure about the person they are writing. This information is supplied directly by the inmate. In some cases, the crime cannot be posted pending legal endeavors with the inmate’s case. However, this is very rare, and information can always be obtained by contacting the Department of Corrections directly.
(Listed under General Questions about WriteAPrisoner.com)

10) Why do you post so much information about mail fraud? Is this a common occurrence?
No. In fact, fraud among our members has been almost non-existent. We provide this as a precaution and to help appease any concerns the Department of Corrections has about our service.
(Listed under Placing Inmate Ads on WriteAPrisoner.com) 

5)    Every single inmate placing an ad on our website is required to list his or her crime with the ad. In addition to this, we provide a link to the Department of Corrections housing that particular inmate on the inmate’s personal webpage. Pen pals can then observe any precautionary measures that the state recommends prior to establishing correspondence with inmates. In fact, we encourage this, and that is why we have gone to such great lengths to provide so much information to the public.  


6)    We provide a form on every inmate’s personal webpage to report misconduct as well as technical problems. While it is rare that we have any reports of misuse of our service, we do this to appease the concerns of the public and the Department of Corrections. Our staff thoroughly researches all concerns and appropriate actions are taken when necessary. 


7)     We include the following message in our Welcome Packet, which is mailed to all inmates when they first begin to use our service:

Mail Fraud - Any member found deliberately misleading pen pals in order to extort money will face legal repercussions. If you know of someone using our service to perpetrate fraud in anyway, please contact us immediately. This is not the standard with our members; however, few have sought to deceive the public by placing false photos and requesting donations under false pretences. Anyone caught doing this will have their ad removed, be blacklisted from WriteAPrisoner.com, be reported to the administration at their institution, and be subject to prosecution by federal authorities under Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341 for mail fraud. We work hard to safeguard our reputation and yours. Please inform us if you should ever become aware of such misconduct by one of our members.