So, I came across this site when watching a documentary and after several visits to the site and several months, I made the decision to write someone. I have no idea why~I am a pretty conservative republican who usually beleives in longer sentences and more jails. However I do have compassion and I feel the only way to transform a life (inside OR outside a jail) is education. I actually found someone who seems pretty hardcore (I beleive he is doing about 40 years) on purpose. I picked someone far away from the state I live in who has a long time before release, again I am not sure why, although I do know I have no interest in "dating" an inmate. I guess we will see what I am made of. From reading some of this forum, it sound like mail moves quite slowly. I mailed the letter 4 days ago, and I ultimately hope that my letter will be a positive thing for him.

Ok, well, I am someone who likes to know all the angles and would appreciate any tips, insight or advice on corresponding with someone incarcarated. Does anyone doing this for reasons other than finding love feel that corresponding with someone in a prison has helped themselves and/or helped the person they are writing too?

Wow~don't everyone reply at once! Real friendly site! lol

Wow, don't everyone reply at once! Thanks for the input, what a friendly site to newcombers! lol

That might because you are a conservative who believes in more prisons and longer sentences Just a guess
Hopefully you might learn something in your correspondence

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Hello NumberCruncher..

First off Welcome to the site!...you will find lots of info in here...some you may not like and some you may but such is life right?...I have 11years experience in a penpal correspondence with a lady convict, and yes i have learned things about myself, one is openmindedness and also being one with another soul in a spiritual sense and then athere are other ways. But back to you and your letter, yanno, sometimes people will write back and some will not, and if they do,,,just be cautious as in life and if they dont, well, you tried, dont push it,,and just choose another.

Also, be true to yourself and never try to impress others in life, whether conservative or liberal in views and if some one wishes to make comments about them,,well, it is their opinion, it doesnt mean it is true. You arew trying to do good, and that means alot,,especially these days when people just dont care, no matter what views that they have.

But before i ramble on too much further, i hope i answered your question....oh yes onr more thing i learned..... Patience!...being a penpal with someone incarcerated means you are dealng with the prisonworld and its rules.

remember the Golden Rule and be safe,

EddieBear

Thank you Eddiebear for your comments. All of which I will use in my future correspondence. Although many of those things come naturally to me, as in my line of work I beleive nothing until it is proven to me. And for the reply from the previous poster, well, I'm certain that there was no implication of judgement on me~being that the foundation of this site seems to be compassion not judgement. One might pontificate that such a reference could be a classic example of hypocrisy.

Well, perhaps one lesson I learn is patience, as that seems to be a downfall for me. Again Eddiebear thank you. It seems like you have derived value from the process. I am excited at that prospect.

welcome on board when needing some help feel free to ask maybe i can help.
wish you a happy writing.

x from holland.

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be nice to the people on your way up,because you will meet them again on your way down

Thank you Whiterose. Since I am always full of questions, don't be surprised if I throw some questions your way!

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"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
~Lord John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton

i just wanna tell you, numbercruncher, that letters may seem insignificant to anyone else but when you are in jail they mean alot more...especially coming from a stranger. i was in jail, and going back. letters from strangers really make you feel special because someone you dont even know took the time out of their lives to write to you. it's very genuine...because sometimes you feel like your family and friends only write because they 'have' to so they dont look like jerks.

friendship is a great thing to offer someone who is in jail. it gets lonely and sad in there...letters help pass time when you have something to respond to.

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Thank you for your response. It is nice to hear your response, because I guess I don't understand what a letter can represent. In fact, I wrote that letter, by hand and thought I could type this thing 10 times faster! My sincere hope is that the letter I sent will brighten his day. I am sorry to hear that you will be going back. Do you have lots of people to write to you?

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"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
~Lord John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton