While working on a project for my portfolio, I ran across this site. There are numerous things located on this site, but I found one thing particularly interesting. Inmates can post profiles about themselves and request people like us to write back, essentially establishing a pen pal relationship.
I ran across this site when looking for ways to reduce the development and impact of institutionalization. I think this is a great way to reduce institutionalization by allowing the inmates to be in contact with the outside world through emails and/or handwritten letters. Basically, willing prisoners post a profile where they include a picture (some profiles are without pictures) as well as information about themselves and who they are interested in talking to. Had I not known these profiles were that of prisoners, I would have never guessed they were incarcerated because they seem very friendly and look to engage in meaningful and fulfilling conversations.
The last paragraph on the site says it best:
"Almost every inmate in prison today will be returning to society at some point. If you will invest some of your time and compassion, together we can help insure that not only will many of them return to us as productive members of society, but they will not return to the prison system again and again and again, as has become the trend in recent years. Together we will reduce recidivism."
I encourage you all to check out this website and consider writing to a prisoner. I think it could be an interesting and educational experience!
I ran across this site when looking for ways to reduce the development and impact of institutionalization. I think this is a great way to reduce institutionalization by allowing the inmates to be in contact with the outside world through emails and/or handwritten letters. Basically, willing prisoners post a profile where they include a picture (some profiles are without pictures) as well as information about themselves and who they are interested in talking to. Had I not known these profiles were that of prisoners, I would have never guessed they were incarcerated because they seem very friendly and look to engage in meaningful and fulfilling conversations.
The last paragraph on the site says it best:
"Almost every inmate in prison today will be returning to society at some point. If you will invest some of your time and compassion, together we can help insure that not only will many of them return to us as productive members of society, but they will not return to the prison system again and again and again, as has become the trend in recent years. Together we will reduce recidivism."
I encourage you all to check out this website and consider writing to a prisoner. I think it could be an interesting and educational experience!
I think this is a good way for prisoners to reduce the feeling of isolation. I mean it could go haywire, I briefly looked over the site I dont know it any of your personal info. is released because that would be scary if once the inmate is realsed they could track you down or something. I d also hope that all mail is sesored before it goes out of the prison or is given to the inmate because you wouldnt want people encouraging illegal activity or something along that line. Im assuming the inmates availabe to write to are not extremly violent and have earned it as a privalege which makes it not so bad. It would be great if outside people gave the inmates hope outside of the prison such as job ideas and maybe encouraging inmates to obtain further education and help them out by explaining how to do so. I think it would be even better if they had former prisoners who became successful talk to prisoners and let them know its not the end and there is more to life. My community college had classes available for the inmates across the street to take and we had a former inmate talk to one of our classes about how he became a social worker or something like that and how it changed his life. Its so much easier to have hope in your situation when you see some like you who has made the impossible possible.
I personal don't think that this is something I myself would feel comfortable participating in. I can see where they are coming from in wanting to help these people feel less isolated and help them become acquainted with society, however, I feel like there are better ways to go about it besides having a pen pal. I feel like actually having them do some sort of physical contact with people like the work release type programs or half way houses are better than writing back in forth with a complete stranger. Which brings me to the question how do you know that the outside pen pal is someone that is going to have positive influence and not a negative one...
Although I most likely wouldn't consider writing a stranger in prison, I do know that writing inmates helps them not feel so isolated and that even though they made mistakes, people still care. I was best friends with a boy a few years ago until he started getting into drugs. He made a huge mistake last October that put him in prison and we recently started writing each other. He's told me how the people that write him really help to keep him sane and helps pass the time by.
I watched a show one time about the people who started these websites in which inmates can talk to outsiders. The show also interviewed inmates who have profiles up on these websites. It seemed that, like with my friend, talking to other people does help them. In some cases, inmates found wives. I definitely think its a positive thing for inmates and also very caring for the outsiders who reach out to them.