Hello everyone.

First post in here.

I found an inmate which is currently in Protective Housing Unit (PHU) and I want to make a first contact with him. This is in California State Prison -Corcoran (CSP-COR).

As a first contact, I would simply like to send a one page hand written letter and a postcard from my country.

As I intend to become a pen pal with this inmate, I'd like to have as much chance as possible to have him receive my letter and be able to reply.

I know things very in relation to stamps, and how letters should be written.

Therefore, it would be really appreciated if you could help me with some instructions and what should I do?

How should my letter be sent?
What I CAN'T do which would block my letter?
As for stamps, any chance I can help the inmate with stamps for him to reply? Perhaps there is a special kind of stamps?

Oh... I'll be writting from France, so international letter...

Thanks a lot for reading and for the attention.

Welcome to WAP. I would send only an airletter as the postal card if enclosed might not make it in first time. I would not offer postage or other things until you find out if they will reply, what the pp says they van have and if their expectations matches yours! Happy writing!

Hello and thanks.

So would it be better just to send a one page hand written letter? Just a common letter would be OK? No need to send any kind of special postage?

Any other instruction I must follow besides putting the "TO" and "FROM" addresses in the envelope and in the letter itself?

Thanks again!

I thought about sending a postcard cause I read here in the website:

And also in the list of "ITEMS THAT ARE WELCOMED WITH YOUR LETTERS" they have "Colorful Post Cards".

Any advice for this new pen pal here?

HEY for those new pen pals my best advice is to write a nice short letter dont include to many personal things and do not send any stamps due to the fact that they dont alow it in some prisons and also dont send money on your first letter.... GOOD luck to all...

Thanks a lot.

Do I need to know the specific cell in which the inmate is? Cause that changes a lot...

I know it is in the PHU Unit and I know the block and hall codes.

If you just use the most recent cell number you have, but he moves in the mean time, his letter should still get to him; it just means you'll have a couple more days delay as they relay his mail to his new cell address. You can also call the prison prior to mailing your letter out and ask if they can confirm the correct address. I'm not sure if they will for sure (I got the staff in VA to confirm for me a while back) but even if they can't/won't give out new cell numbers, just ask them to confirm that if you send to the most recent cell no, that it will find it's way to the intended recipient.

You'll be fine, I'm sure of it. Just be prepared for quite a long time between you sending a letter and receiving a reply. Especially if you are overseas. California is notorious for it's slow mail turnaround. But don't worry. Once you and your pen pal get properly acquainted, you can have a couple of letters on the go at the same time, which will make it seem like less time elapses between letters.

Good luck!

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"True glory consists in doing what deserves to be written; in writing what deserves to be read; and in so living as to make the world happier for our living in it." ~ Pliny The Elder (23AD - 79AD)

Thanks everyone. It worked and I got an answer in about 2 weeks.

He sent me a self-addressed envelope with his address and cell number.

Can I do the same to him? Send an empty but stamped self-addressed envelope with my address already written in it?

I guess it would make his life a bit easier to write me back.

something tells me that you are writing to either charles manson or robert kenndy's assasin.i have written to this prison-you must write in english,you must not swear in your letter,you must not use codes.visit the prisons website to see a list of items you may and may NOT send.

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everyone deserves a friend