Hi,

My name is Karen, and I have a couple questions before I send my first letter.

I'm not nervous about writing to a prisoner, but am concerned about using my address. I can't afford to rent a PO box at the moment...so I'd be using my actual address for correspondence. I'm well aware that using a PO box is recommended, but I was wondering if anyone used their actual address and if so, have they had any problems as a result? I have chose to write to people who are serving life sentences if that makes any difference.

Also, I have browsed the forums and saw that some people have sent numerous letters before receiving a reply. Should I expect to send dozens of letters out before I get a response?

Any advice is appreciated. I am looking forward to writing and hopefully brightening the life of someone who needs it.

Karen welcome to WAP I started writing in Dec 2008 and it was the christmas week that i sent out my first letter and i got my first reply Jan 2nd 2009, about a 3 week turnaround, I am in England and i used my home address though there are some members from the USA who have used there home address from the start, i think that will be your choice, enjoy writing i do i have 3 PP's now and i regularly stalk my mail man lol

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STONE WALLS DO NOT A PRISON MAKE NOR IRON BARS A CAGE

Hello ! Karen and welcome to WAP !

I'm a newbie also - and still waiting for a reply - I'm in France so I know it can take up to 3 or 4 weeks before getting an answer so I have to be patient (which I'm NOT at all !)

I've written to 4 pps because I've read here that sometimes you don't get a reply for different reasons (they didn't like your letter, or have already too many pps, etc.), and the chances are one out of 4 so we'll see. But also, they say that I will get an answer from each one ! I hope so, we'll see how it goes along.

I use my personal address simply because in France, only professionnals can have a PO BOX.

I was a pp before and I never got any problem with that.
Now, I've been using that time to read as much as possible on the WAP forum in order to find out about the mail rules of the various prisons my pps are located within. Because they differ from one state to another, and also to learn from other pps'experiences, which is really helpful.
They're so happy with their pps, I hope it'll be the same for us !

This WAP is addictive so be careful
But you learn important stuff as not to write to several pps located in the same prison, etc.

You can pm if you want.
If my count is right, my pps have received my introduction letter, now I have to a little bit more patient !

As for Gerry, yes mail man are being stalked in many countries now !!!!!

Welcome at wap...

If you can't afford to rent a P.O Box so it's ok to use your home adress.
Writing with someone whos in prison means first of all you have to be more than patient.
Getting a reply depends which State and Prison and the State you're living.
For the mailrules check the DOC webside.
So enjoy your writing

Just be aware that some inmates may trade or sell your address if they are not interested. The guy who somehow obtained my address was very polite. The shock of it freaked me out though.

Good luck

Welcome to WAP.

If you cannot afford a box then use the home address. I have had a box since 1974 for hobby reasons so it was easy to use. I do give out the home address to some and have never had any problems.
You may have to write a couple different people to get a reply, as it depends how your expections and theirs matches up. Some people here get lucky and get replies withing 2 weeks. Have fun as writing is an adventure.

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome and advice! I'm excited about sending out my first letters...

Hi Nora and welcome.
If you are writing to people serving life sentences then it should be o.k to use your home address. After all if it's not likely they are ever going to get out, you shouldn't need to worry about them turning up on your doorstep out of the blue.

Keep some good common sense rules in your head, when you do get a reply, things like

Remember until you get to know and trust your P/P they are a completer stranger so only give out the amount of personal information that you feel comfortable with,
Ask you p/p NOT to pass your address/phone number around to other inmates,
be wary if within the first couple of letters they ask you for money, or pledge their undying love
Be aware that in some prisons there are scams going on and some inmates do lie about why they are locked up, or about their background,etc ,they might try to tell you just what you want to hear, and string you along so watch out for anything that you feel isn't quite right.


Keep your wits about you and i am sure you will do O.K

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

Tom Baker as The Fourth Doctor