Sending Money
Posted 06-30-2008 at 01:00 AM by Skye
Sending Money is an age old topic that comes up. So, I thought I would post a few pointers about sending money and what to look for.
Honestly, this should be a personal decision for one to make. It should be something you can do if you have the means to, and if you are comfortable doing it.
My suggestion is never start the pen-friendship off by offering to send money. This sets the expectation as to what one offers as a part of their friendship and instead of an act of kindness, it becomes an expectation.
If an inmate is asking for large sums of money, it is questionable. Some facilities have things on the commissary list of high value, such as t.v's and so on, but none the less, all institutions warn against requests for large amounts of money.
Frequent and constant requests are also an indication that something may not be right.
In all honesty, the inmates receive 3 meals a day. It may not be what they want to eat, but they do get fed 3 times a day, except weekends.
They are provided the basic essentials to survive on. However, it is shocking what is provided to them. For instance, toothpaste is given to them in the form of baking soda, not Colgate or crest, they have to buy the good stuff.
You know those tiny hotel bars of soap? That is what the state provides them, not the big bars or gel soap like we can go purchase, if they want that, they have to buy it.
So yeah, if one tells me they need toothpaste, I send 'em some money, baking soda? YUCK!
But... they are provided the basic essentials to survive on.
When asked to send money to ANOTHER inmate at your pals request, that is something I would not be involved in. It's usually to pay a debt or could be extortion related.
Ultimately, the best thing to do is follow your intuition and how you feel about sending it if the request should come up.
When it comes to loaning friends money, be it my friends in the free world or those who are incarcerated, I go by the same set of rules. It if feels funny, I don't do it.
There will be people who claim to be scammed by inmates, it happens. There are also people who send money when not requested and when it doesn't go their way, claim they were scammed. It goes both ways.
My advice is only do what feels right to you. Nobody really has the exact answer to your situation. Just spend your money wisely and remember, you are not an ATM machine, if you are.... can you dispense some my way?
Honestly, this should be a personal decision for one to make. It should be something you can do if you have the means to, and if you are comfortable doing it.
My suggestion is never start the pen-friendship off by offering to send money. This sets the expectation as to what one offers as a part of their friendship and instead of an act of kindness, it becomes an expectation.
If an inmate is asking for large sums of money, it is questionable. Some facilities have things on the commissary list of high value, such as t.v's and so on, but none the less, all institutions warn against requests for large amounts of money.
Frequent and constant requests are also an indication that something may not be right.
In all honesty, the inmates receive 3 meals a day. It may not be what they want to eat, but they do get fed 3 times a day, except weekends.
They are provided the basic essentials to survive on. However, it is shocking what is provided to them. For instance, toothpaste is given to them in the form of baking soda, not Colgate or crest, they have to buy the good stuff.
You know those tiny hotel bars of soap? That is what the state provides them, not the big bars or gel soap like we can go purchase, if they want that, they have to buy it.
So yeah, if one tells me they need toothpaste, I send 'em some money, baking soda? YUCK!
But... they are provided the basic essentials to survive on.
When asked to send money to ANOTHER inmate at your pals request, that is something I would not be involved in. It's usually to pay a debt or could be extortion related.
Ultimately, the best thing to do is follow your intuition and how you feel about sending it if the request should come up.
When it comes to loaning friends money, be it my friends in the free world or those who are incarcerated, I go by the same set of rules. It if feels funny, I don't do it.
There will be people who claim to be scammed by inmates, it happens. There are also people who send money when not requested and when it doesn't go their way, claim they were scammed. It goes both ways.
My advice is only do what feels right to you. Nobody really has the exact answer to your situation. Just spend your money wisely and remember, you are not an ATM machine, if you are.... can you dispense some my way?
Recent Blog Entries by Skye
- Should you confront the other pal? PART 1 (09-17-2008)
- Should you confront the other pal PART 2 (09-17-2008)
- Sadness (07-15-2008)
- Sharing an old Blog, "Why Do I write Inmates?" (06-30-2008)
- Sending Money (06-30-2008)
