I think this is a very interesting thread. For myself i see some major differences between the american and our own penal system. I talk about how those people are treated. Our own system i understand as a system what punishes people (who made mistakes) not as hard as possible, but rather hard as it´s minimal needed. I´m convinced that our own systems task is not to incarcerate people when it´s not really needed. The sense of a penal system should be not only to punish but rather to give those fellows a new chance and a perspective how to reach a better life with the capabilities everyone has. I´m not sure but from time to time i miss in America what we call here "social responsibility of the country". Reintegration is a part of. Something seems to be very wrong when an inmate becomes released after years with no (or much too less) money and without no perspective in his life, first step: where to go and from what to live.
Americas people have the same basic needs, thoughts and feelings as we have here: everyone wants to have a proper life with the capabilities everyone has. The question is how much the country is able to support it. In America i see a difference when much people think only one (the next) step forward without seeing the second and the third step. Unfortunately also in relation to the penal system.

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Do you like that kind of german folk music ?.

Wow, stereotypes are rife in this debate. I do agree with some of the stuff being said about penal systems. I'm from Denmark and whilst being locked up is never a trip to heaven no matter where you are in the world, I do think that it's far better in Denmark and some other European countries than the US. The Danish penal system is based on an understanding that rehabilitation and re-entry is the way forward. Also we have a large welfare state where the social security system has many institutions and organisations to catch young criminals before they turn into hard-core criminals and before long-term sentencing/incarceration is needed. Does it work? Sometimes it does - sometimes it don't. Is it better than locking them up and throwing away the key? Probably. Whilst there are a percentage that never want to understand and never will reform, some also do before entering prison. That is the good part (although our silly government is doing everything in its power to diminish it - total tossers!).

However wen that is said, the sentencing part is highly debated. The maximum sentence here for rape is 8 years and that is given only in very very rare cases. Our 'life' sentencing is 16 years - at the very very most. And the prisons are filled with x-boxes, tv's, etc. - luxurious items. The same problem of organised crime inside prisons that exists in the US also exists here. The 'getting tough' on the criminals which is supposed to be the idea of prison is minimal - and yes, I'm aware that they are locked up - but they have many priviledges and many come out not reformed, straight back into crime as they say that 'prison is like a holiday camp where you can hang with your pals and play x-box whilst smoking pot'. So for that part I see both good and bad sides.

Now to answer the original question, I'm one of the 'cold' people from the north of Europe. I write to 4 different guys scattered across the US. I do it because no matter what, people always need a friend or someone to talk to and from what I've seen prison is the last place for friendship and security. And while I could just not care - being 'cold' and all - I believe the kindness of strangers is one of the most powerful forces in the world and can help move mountains. So for these guys my letters to them might mean a positive re-enforcement and a different outlook on life than the criminal one, another way to see the world and their lives. Plus any kind of outside contact for these guys who for the most part have very little family and few friends that are any good, knowing that someone cares just means so much more than you can imagine. And it might be the turning point. Plus I like meeting new people in unusual places and learning new things. It always gives a better basis for understanding the world and the people you meet in it.

Why the distance and not write someone in Denmark? Because like someone else said, they are allowed family visits frequently, it's easier to go on outside visits, calls are cheap and sentences are often not very long - mostly 6 months to a couple of years for most offenses. Whilst they might also need mail, the chances of their family and friends leaving them is much slimmer than someone doing a 25-to-life bid in a maximum facility in the US.

Man, what a long post! Sorry for the long rant. Hopes this contributes to the debate.

All the best,

Sus

I believe the sentences in my country is shorter then the time the Post man need to delivery my mail.

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when he started I was facing the hell and but when he stoped the hell was facing me. I guess 13 is just an unlucky number and it was my age.

lmao that is funny

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"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams"

"Fall seven times, stand up eight"

"Go back a little to leap further"

Excellence can be obtained if you:
care more than others think is wise;
risk more than others think is safe;
dream more than others think is practical;
expect more than others think is possible.

A good one and I definitely agree!

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Light travels faster than sound. That's why people look intelligent until they open their mouth.

Much like Sus-Mus shared i have to agree our system is like theirs.


America as a whole is an individualistic society, meaning seeking happiness for self where as many outside are the opposite and are socialistic seeking and willing to sacrifice for others and their happiness. Saying your needs are just as important as mine. Although we may look much alike at a glance our core values and morals are very different, because of that we value and view life differently and treat people according. I am not talking specific individuals within our societies, but as a whole as it has been documented. That is why i believe you see many people outside America willing to be involved with prisoners.

As for the system here, i can tell you of one mans experience, he was interviewed (he is an American) Had served years in prison in Mexico and America, currently serving time in Australia for drug trafficking not far from me. When asked why he hasn't transferred back to America closer to family etc to serve out his time which he is able to do under the prisoner exchange program (i think he has done something like 10 years already here, and has about 8 more to serve), his answer was that here they treat you like a person, in America they don't care, your just a number. Something to that effect, which i found interesting. I think the main difference here, is people get a second chance when they do a wrong as far as sentencing, and as time progresses rehabilitation is becoming more of a focus for prisoners.

I know just working in the system here, after describing what the new wing is like, many friends in America and even members here kinda laughed thinking it was like a holiday camp, and i guess compared to America it is. We still have many of the same issues, do not be mistaken, but gangs in prison especially away from the cities are non existent, and black and white come together as one. Also we only have a police holding cell where you are kept and booked usually released within 24 hours, or you go to prison. No jails like you see in America, here you go to prison no matter the length of sentence. You may spend weeks, months or years all at the same prison, no in between.

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The last of all freedoms is the ability to choose one's attitude in a given set of circumstances.
G. W. Allport.

For me I am just writing to someone in the United States as I have not yet found a way to contact anyone in Austalian prisons, though, to be safe I may not write to anyone in Risdon as that is too close (I used to live pretty close to it when I was in Risdon Vale, and probably wouldn't have written to someone back then if I could. Or at least I would have gotten a PO Box.)

I have a family member that works as Risdon Prison, and a lot of them are getting pirated DVDs, and one inmate (I won't name him) had a decent cell and stuff was alllowed out to rent videos and such before he was attacked one day in prison they have locked off his access to the general population now.

But back onto the topic I think maybe a fair few people do not know about any way to contact those in their own country if they wanted to. I was given this site link the other day by a friend who also had a friend writing her friend pp said there was a guy looking for someone in Australia to write to she was given the address and stuff to contact him and she was writing a letter to him.

I came across someone and decided to write to someone as well, it had never crossed my mind until Sunday, and have written 2 letters, and I'm looking forward to a reply if one should come.

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Ðàvãğĕ.

" The true measure of a hero is when a man lays down his life with the knowledge that those he saves."

well hate to say this patsy, but your only 80% right on the life sentance, its 15yrs , time served is min of 5, unless your on ps,(penal servitude) then its every single day to be served, as for the guy on the phone, you know what price he paid for doing what he done, im pretty sure he wouldnt have done it if he knew,

Nice to have someone else from our part of the world
Your also right about that fella on the phone, thanks for clearing that up for me, I have always just heard that life sentence is 14.
Can you tell me if this is true, I thought I heard that women can only get a max of 7 years no matter what?? I'll tell you where I heard it from, in relation to that woman down the country and her son that she was abusing.

I think you cant speak about ALL europeans or ALL americans. People are different in every country.

I can only speak for myself ...

So why do i write to US Prisoners ...

There are a few reasons. Some time ago i saw TV Reports about US Prisons and was shocked about the conditions there. I saw people who got 500 years Prison or more for crimes you will get a few years in germany. To see people in those prisons also deathrow made me really sad. I knew i cant change anything about that, but maybe i could help people by writing with them.

I cant really imagine how cruel it must be to live -alone- isolated in a small cage for the rest of my life, and to be true i dont want to imagine that

A other reason is, because i dont know such sites like "prison locater" from europe. I think this will be forbidden here because of privacy reasons. So its much easier to find a pen pal there.

But there are not only advatages ...
You cant visit your pen pal so easily, you cant help them to find a job if they get released some day and so on.


Oh and never forget a very important reason why european people write to US Prisoners ---> The language ... most people here speak english or have learned it in school. That makes it easier to communicate with a us prisoner instead of a arabian or russian


I hope you all have a nice week ...
Greetings from Germany

Michael