Hi,
I am new to all of this. I actually sent out my first e-mail/letter today. I had a couple of questions for those who are writing with other pen pals. Since I sent out my e-mail today (a letter should be sent out on the 20th) when would my pen pal get the letter? Also, will he write back? Is this a safe thing to do?
I am so nervous about writing a penpal. I do not even know this individual, but I had heard from a friend that a lot of times these guys don't get any letters from loved ones. Despite the reason they are in prison I would still like to offer some support.
Should I hear something back? Again, if I sent the e-mail today when should he get the letter and do they write back immediately? How long does it normally take to get a letter back. If he writes back I will begin writing him, I wrote an e-mail first hoping for a response.
Please any advice would be great. Thank you!

[quote=NurseMeg;934306]Hi,
I am new to all of this. I actually sent out my first e-mail/letter today. I had a couple of questions for those who are writing with other pen pals. Since I sent out my e-mail today (a letter should be sent out on the 20th) when would my pen pal get the letter? Also, will he write back? Is this a safe thing to do?
I am so nervous about writing a penpal. I do not even know this individual, but I had heard from a friend that a lot of times these guys don't get any letters from loved ones. Despite the reason they are in prison I would still like to offer some support.
Should I hear something back? Again, if I sent the e-mail today when should he get the letter and do they write back immediately? How long does it normally take to get a letter back. If he writes back I will begin writing him, I wrote an e-mail first hoping for a response.
Please any advice would be great. Thank you![/QUOTE

Nurse-
Welcome to WAP. I have heard of people not getting a response but never had one myself. As far as safe, thats an individual thing. I use my home address and have no fear.

First contacts usually take the longest, be prepared to wait up to a month or so

I am sure you will brighten his day.

__________________
You always have to remember - no matter what you're told - that God loves all the flowers, even the wild ones that grow on the side of the highway."
--------------------------------------------
Life is short, live every day like its your last

Thank you so much! I hope I do brighten his day. Last week an inmate from the county prison came in and I felt as though all of the other nurses and doctors were not treating him with the same sort or repect they would give other individuals. I hope I do hear something back. Are you able to write to more than one inmate? Do most of them have family and friends that right to them?

Feel free to write as many as you want but you can only use the WAP email system for first contact. Most people I know write to at least 2 people I write to 2 guys in KY, a guy in Supermax in CO and a gal in Tx.

__________________
You always have to remember - no matter what you're told - that God loves all the flowers, even the wild ones that grow on the side of the highway."
--------------------------------------------
Life is short, live every day like its your last

Thank you. I think I will reach out and e-mail at least two or three guys. Thanks for letting me know about only e-mailing them the initial time. Will they get the e-mail? Have you e-mailed for the initial time and they for sure have gotten it?

I have used the email system and yes WAP will print it out and get it to them

__________________
You always have to remember - no matter what you're told - that God loves all the flowers, even the wild ones that grow on the side of the highway."
--------------------------------------------
Life is short, live every day like its your last

Thank you so much. You really are such a help. It is fascinating reading through the profiles and looking at the crimes. Very interesting stuff. Hopefully in three weeks or so I will get a letter, we will see

If you are going to write to more then one person, make sure they are not in the same facility

I only write to 1 man, I emailed him first and received a response to my letter within 2 weeks and Im outside the US.

I wish you luck and happy writing!

First of all welcome at wap...
Writing an inmate means you have to be very patient.Prisonmail is pretty slow also depends where you live and which State your pp is locked up.
And like stephLL said never have more than one pp at the same Unit.
You also will find more about the mail rules on your pp DOC webside,the State where your pp is serving his sentence.

Hi and welcome,as you said when using this site the emails are only sent out 2x a month. So it could be that if you wrote the e-mail after the 20th it won't be sent until the next batch at the begining of the following month.

You may not get a reply, as inmates get released/moved all the time and your mail might have arrived too late it may get passed on if the inmate gets moved, or it might just get lost in a mail room somewhere.Then again some inmates may just choose not to reply, as they might already have a large number of people writing to them, or for any number of other reasons.Also the cost of buying stationary may be a factor too.Some inmates have very little money,even if they do work inside or outside the prison they may only get a Dollar a day or even less, things such as paper,envelopes,stamps all have to be brought by inmates, also they may be limited on how items are allowed to have.

Be patient, as they may not be able to afford to write back straight away,i usually get a letter every 3 weeks or so, which i believe is about average.Of course there's nothing to stop you from writing as many letters to inmates as often you like

__________________
"What is the point of being an adult, if you can't be childish sometimes."

Tom Baker as The Fourth Doctor