Hello everybody, as I mentioned before I have a special situation.

A few years ago I started a pen-pal relation with a nice person currently incarcerated in Missouri. After writing for about 18months her letters stopped abruptly. I thought many scenarios but figured that she just lost interest which was unusual because we shared so much and she considered me a true friend. This of course could have been easily misconstrued & critizised by many but what made me feel her as sincere was that she never once mentioned nor asked for anything other than a friendship, i.e. no finacial assistance was ever mentioned. After all the correspondence and no evidence of self interest on her part, I felt secure with her friendship, thus, she was the only person incarcerated that I wrote to.
I later found out that the state of MO prohibits prisoners from using internet ads for pen-pals, I'm sure they (the state) have their reasons for such restrictions though I don't have to reason with them. This is an unfair treatment inposed on those serving out their debt to society. Like I mentioned before, my friend cherished our moments together through words and letters. She looked to hearing from me and to the encouragement that inspired her to go on. All simple gestures on the surface nevertheless for those confined to prison, a much needed reprieve.

Thus I ask the community, is anybody here going through a similiar situation? I recal a petition being posted here to request relief from the governor of Missouri concerning this travesty. I printed it and signed it and mailed it. Does anyone want to do the same even if they are not personally affected by this silly restriction?

I still have other questions to pose here and I hope that we few can make a difference in the lives of many. I will address these other issues later. Please, let me know anything that you may be able to share. I appreciate your time and have a great day.

Martin

How would the state/prison know you were an internet pen pal? Did you not say you were writing this person for sometime?

I agree the state is out of line. Our prisoners need our support, not silly rules that stop them from being in touch with the outside world.

__________________

Hello Martin. I am new here at WAP. So obviously I am not
familiar with the petition you mention in your post. However, if you submit another one to the Governor of MO, you can count on my signature to support your cause.

I am sorry that you find yourself what seems to me,confused because your pp letters suddenly stopped after 18 months of continuing exchanges. You mention a rule that prohibits the Ad feature of WAP where prisoners can buy such Ads. I just had to ask you these two obvious strange connections that brought your concern.

The first connection that led to a sudden curtailment of
her mail, as you point out is the prohibition rule. Now how
in the world could the Governor know of the Ad being
purchased after 18 months. Is there something I do not
know when writing to prisoners? In other words, each time
in 18 months that you wrote to each other, did she have
to report that she was some type of member of the Ad
buying here at WAP?

You make clear that you have not heard from her in some
time but not how long. I guess when trying to figure your
situation out one must know all the facts. You sound like
you are actually not sure just what made her letters stop

If I had a situation like yours, even though I did not read
where you seek advise, I will however give it to you. I
would call the prison to make sure she is alright. That to
me would be my first thought. Maybe she had an accident
and you know that prison officials keep the lid tight on
these situations where only family members are notified.

My second advise is this: Maybe she just changed her mind
about you. It happens to the best of us. I find it extremely
difficult to see that after 18 months, suddenly just out of
nowhere the rule is being applied to her, without warning
and giving her a chance to inform you...Martin feel free
to respond. I am sorry for your pain. I hear some sad tales
here at WAP...Yours however is a mystery.

Wow, I would be on the phone with the prison seeing if she is still there first off! I look my pp up on the website daily to make sure he hasn't been moved, or something like that. Do you have a connection with her family? If so, have you tried contacting them? I agree, this is a mystery!

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

Hi,

call the Prison,aks if she's ok.
Maybe she is in the hospital they have moved her.
Even none of us really like the thought but sometimes it happens that they stop writing,because they have change their mind.