For Immediate Release

Web Site Features Prisoners Seeking Pen Pals
www.writeaprisoner.com

Contact:
Press at WriteAPrisoner.com
P.O. Box 10
Edgewater, FL 32132
Fax: 386-427-5958
Phone: 386-427-5857 (For members of the media)
E-mail: Contact Press Department

WriteAPrisoner.com is a web site that features personal ads and photos of prisoners who are looking for pen pals.  Most prisoners on the site reside in U.S. institutions, but overseas prisoners can join.  Prisoners pay forty dollars for an annual ad in the hope of potential pen pals becoming interested enough to write.  The site advertises in major papers to ensure high traffic on its site, and a unique search feature allows viewers to search for prison pen pals by age, race, gender, location, etc.  Prisoners are provided personal email addresses with their ads to encourage first time writers.  The site then prints and mails the messages to the prisoners.

Viewers to the site can expect to see more than personal ads of prisoners.  A key feature of the site is its "In the News" section featuring current events related to prison issues.  Links are provided to original sources, such as National Public Radio, so viewers can hear the original broadcasts.  The site advocates for prisoners' rights and includes links to related sites, prisoners' testimonials, and prison statistics.  Besides offering a pen pal service to prisoners, the site is considered an excellent resource regarding prison issues.

Located in Edgewater, Florida, this young business is offering a personal service to inmates and becoming a clearinghouse of relevant prison information. Any member of WriteAPrisoner.com can extend his ad by two months each time he sponsors a new member.  About 30 percent of current members have sponsored new members.  The site is quite successful in its ultimate goal - getting mail for prisoners.  One inmate, Willie Hunter of New Haven, Michigan, met his future wife through the service and asked to cancel his ad.  Others have received so much mail that they, too, have cancelled their ads.  The heavy traffic, and the ease of sending an email to the prisoners through the site's service, account for the mail generated to prisoners.

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