Writing to an Inmate

Having a loved one in jail is not easy to deal with, especially when it is a friend, family member, or someone you have always spent most of your days with. The experience of watching them go through the law system, being booked, sentenced, and jailed can be traumatizing and a bit hard to handle.  

The situation worsens when they are already incarcerated, and you can no longer see them or spend time with them like you are used to. Most of the time, the best way to make them feel like they are still part of the outside world is to communicate with them constantly.  

One way to communicate with inmates is by writing to them frequently. This article focuses on various ways you can write to an inmate, rules and regulations that should be observed when writing to an inmate, and the contents of your message.  

Various Ways to Write to an Inmate in the U.S 

In the past years, there was only one way you could write to an inmate- sending mail. However, thanks to the ever-improving technology and certain adjustments on inmates’ rights to communicate with their loved ones, inmates can enjoy several methods of writing to each other.  

However, before assuming that all the correctional facilities in the U.S. provide the following services, consider making certain inquiries from the facility’s administration.  

Also, most correctional facilities do not allow mail or email communication between inmates. Suppose two family members are incarcerated; to enjoy such communication privileges, they should seek permission from the warden.  

Writing To an Inmate via Mail  

As stated earlier, mailing has been the most used and trusted method by most correctional facilities in the U.S. 

For those new to the process, you need to know the following about an inmate before sending a mail:  

• The prison where the inmate is locked up and the state  
• The inmate’s name 
• Their booking number  
• The mailing address 

To get all this info, it is very crucial that you know the name of the facility. That way, you can easily look it up on their website and get vital information such as the facility’s physical address and the mailing policy.  

Let’s say you want information on an inmate in The Philadelphia Community Corrections Center; you will need to visit their official website to get inmate information so that you can mail them a letter.  

Alternatively, you may as well visit the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections website to get information on any inmate incarcerated in Philadelphia and the whole of Pennsylvania. 

Visiting the facility’s website is also helpful because you can always access the inmate database, which will help you know additional information about an inmate, which is vital when mailing a letter. For instance, an inmate’s booking number should be included on the address when sending your letters.  

If the website does not have an inmate database to search for personal details, it should offer a telephone number. Use the number to call the facility to obtain the inmate’s data and enquire about the mailing policy.  

How to Address the Envelope   

Once you have acquired all the details you need for the inmate’s address, and you are done writing your letter, the next step is to address the envelope. The envelope needs accurate information so the letter will reach the intended recipient. Therefore, it should have the following information as illustrated below: 

The inmate’s name and booking number 

The P.O. Box of the jail or prison 

The city, state, and zip code 

Also, ensure the same envelope has a return address on the top right corner. The return address should include your name and your physical address, as illustrated below:  

Your first and last name 

Physical address  

City, state, and zip code 

When mailing your letter to an inmate, ensure the envelope only contains the inmate’s address, your address, and the proper amount of postage, depending on the weight of the letter. Additional information may cause the rejection of the letter.  

You may deposit the letter in the mail or send it to the post office. However, avoid using delivery services like the courier.  

Writing To an Inmate via Email 

Not all correctional facilities have embraced email as a way of writing to an inmate. Therefore make sure you enquire from the facility offers before assuming it exists. 

Facilities that have embraced emailing as an additional method of writing to inmates operate TRULINCS, programs that allow a loved one and an inmate to exchange communication through platforms like ConnectNetwork.com.  

To use such platforms, you must visit their website and create an account. Once the account is active, you will credit it with email credits enabling you to email an inmate. If the account has enough email credits, the inmate can reply to your message through a secure kiosk installed in their facility.  

To create an account with ConnectNetwork, you must have a valid email address and a visa or master card to credit the account.  

Such messaging platforms are faster than postal services, and at times they are less expensive than buying stamps now and then. Depending on the platform, each message may cost as much as $0.25. Visit GTL for detailed instructions on how to use ConnectNetwork to write a letter to your locked-up loved one.  

Other correctional facilities where such platforms are yet to be approved may have a set-aside email address where a loved one can email an inmate. The sender must state the inmate’s first and last name and ID number.  

The administration will then print the email and give it to the inmate. In such scenarios, the inmate may have to reply to the message by writing a letter through a postal address, unless the correctional facility also allows computer and internet access to inmates.  

Writing a Message to an Inmate  

Messaging is a new writing method yet to be accepted in most correctional facilities. Most facilities are yet to agree with communication organizations like GTL or ConnectNetwork.  

To know whether the penitentiary facility your loved one is in has embraced messaging as an extra method of keeping in touch, consider searching for their services here.  

You can use the messaging method if you have a registered GTL or ConnectNetwork account. The account also needs to be credited for the message, and if you expect a reply, there should be enough funds to allow the inmate to reply to your message.  

All you will need is a ConnectNetwork mobile app, register the facility where the message will be heading, and provide personal details of the inmate who will receive the message as requested by the system.  

You can get the mobile app to your device by downloading it here for android users and here for iOS users. 

The messaging app will not only allow you to send a written message, but also photos and videos as long as they follow the facility’s rules and regulations.  

Rules Governing Writing to an Inmate in Most Correctional Facilities  

Every prison in the U.S. has rules governing how inmates and loved ones should write to each other. Most of the time, these regulations are published on the facility’s website.  

As you go through the site, ensure you also go through their rules concerning writing to an inmate. Failure to follow these rules will lead to the rejection of your letter, and sometimes it may even lead to criminal charges. 

Below are some general rules that must be followed when writing to inmates in most correctional facilities.  

• You cannot send books or published materials directly to an inmate. Instead, you should send them from a publishing house or a distributor like Amazon or Barnes & Noble. 
• The contents of the letter should not contain anything of a criminal nature, like describing the use of a weapon, drugs, or other intoxicants. 
• Your letters should not be stapled together as staples can be used as weapons, thus they are considered dangerous.  
• You cannot place cash inside the envelope when posting a letter to an inmate.  
• Do not send nude pictures showing private parts of the body like the genitals, buttocks, or breasts. 
• The pictures should be 5 x 7 inches or smaller. 
• When using other writing methods like a messaging app or an email, you may only be restricted to two messages per day, not longer than a single page per message.  
• When posting a letter, ensure the address is appropriately written on the envelope and include a return address in case the letter is not submitted.  
• Your letters should only be written in pencil or pen, not crayons or markers. 
• The letter should also be written on plain white paper without stickers on the envelope and the letter itself.  
• Glitters or perfumes are not allowed on the letter.  

What to Say When Writing to an Inmate  

Now that you know where your loved one has been incarcerated and precisely the method you will use to write to them as often as possible, do you know what you will say to them?  

Remember, you are probably the only connection they have to the outside world; the message you write to them will contribute significantly to their struggle and effort to return to the community.  

Therefore, ensure the written letters contain positive information full of hope, love, and encouragement. Below are a few writing points to consider: 

1. Ask How They Are  

When asking how they are faring, use straightforward open-ended questions like: how are you? How are things going with you? Is there anything you would like me to bring for you? Such questions allow them to answer you freely when replying to your letters.  

2. Talk about What Is Going On The Outside 

Despite certain beliefs that inmates do not like knowing about what is happening outside for the fear that it may make them feel sorry for themselves or hate themselves, the truth is most prisoners enjoy stories from outside. 

Most want to be kept in the loop about what is trending and going on. It makes them feel part of the free world and sometimes gives them something to look forward to when they are out of prison.  

You may as well use the platform to share the good news about family and friends, for instance, news of a new family member or someone being accepted into college.  

Make sure the news shared is positive, so that you don’t cause them more stress than they are already facing. Also, as you share the good experiences in your life, be careful not to make them feel jealous of you. 

Remember, the aim is to make them look forward to the moment they will be out and make the same memories with you.  

3. Remind Them of the Happy Moments You Shared  

When writing letters to an inmate, remind them of good times and events the both of you enjoyed together. It could be hiking, travelling, or even a family get-together. Such moments may have even escaped the inmate’s minds due to what they have been going through.  

Reminding them gives them something to smile about and even hope to experience again when they are out.  

4. Promise To Write To Them Again Soon  

The more you write to an inmate, the more you make them feel loved, appreciated, and valued. The inmate needs to know their loved ones still remember them. End your letter by promising to write to them again soon. 

Also, let them know that you are looking forward to their reply as well. However, if you do not intend to write the next time, ensure to tell them so that they are not disappointed if they do not get a letter from you.   

Conclusion  

When writing to an inmate, you need to know the specific prison they are located in. Look for the facility on the internet to get their details and additional information about an inmate you want to write to.  

You can write to an inmate in three ways: mailing, emailing and sending electronic messages. However, it will depend on the technique the correctional facility allows.  

Rules and regulations must be adhered to when writing to an inmate. Each facility may have its policy; make sure to go through them before writing to an inmate.  

Finally, when writing to an inmate, ensure the message is positive and full of hope to encourage them to focus on finishing their sentences and joining you on the outside world.