i'm starting this new thread based on responses from another topic.

does anyone have any post release success stories to share? has anyone kept in touch with any of their penpals once they got out and if not, why not? who stopped writing?

many of you have said that you consider your penpals to be real friends. if the relationship only works while or because they are locked up then is that a real friendship? or just a friendship of convenience?

in the end, i know it doesn't matter. i'm not saying that writing is not worthwhile because of this. but it goes back to my earlier thread of if you are really able to hold this friendship to the same standard as your free world friendships.

good topic flimflam, very interested in this

flimflam strikes again! :-P I love the questions you put out. I too have been waiting for a good post-release success story, but we have yet to get ANY let alone a good one. Does this alter my belief that we make a difference? No. I think we do. But I also take your point that recidivism rates are high which makes you wonder just how much of a difference we make. I would like to make a longterm difference. So the solution is...??

I think we need to rage against the system as much as we need to write friendship letters. The problem is raging, and having something come of it, is no small feat. But I'm willing if you are :-) Dunno where to start but I'm willing! :-P

oops hope I didn't confuse anyone...I was responding to about 3 of flimflam's different threads in this one! :-)

well , i dont know if it counts , but when i was 18 my ** male friend ** was locked up for murder , he did 18 and is home ,

i stayed a while , and his family kept up with me , he had a few extracurricualrs while down , and i um , wasnt waiting for a man , that was doing cos , if my life is hold , urs should be also , since my time is a gift , and urs is a sentence , anywayssssssssssss ,,,

we talk all the time , and i was no where in his life the last , 6 years of his bid !

Well, I can add a bit to this thread.

I have continued to be friends with two people who wrote me while I was in prison. These two people are womderful, kind women who both have great lives, great families and huge hearts. Immediately upon my release, they both offered any help or support that I might need. Their husbands both were very happy to offer help also.

They asked me to become a member of their church (they are best friends) and have taken a real interest in both my daughter's and my well being.

As Christmas approaches, I can only say to all of you that what you do does make a huge difference to the people that you write. Sometimes you tend to minimize the impact that you have on the lives of others...in this case your impact is tremendous. Please keep it up!

Greg

QQ I think that definitely counts. Greg, that is wonderful! Thanks for sharing :-)