How are you feeling? What are you doing to keep busy? What can I do to help support you?[2] X Research source
Tell your partner about your plans and your regular schedule. If your incarcerated partner is reading a particular book or watching a particular show, read or watch the same thing and discuss it in your letter. This provides you with a common interest while your partner is incarcerated. If you have children, share details about your child’s life. Write about decisions that you are trying to make about jobs, school, friendships and ask for your partner’s advice. Be clear about what you can and cannot do. For example, if your incarcerated partner wants you to write every day and you are unable to do that, explain that to your partner and talk about your feelings or concerns honestly.
Shared interests such as sports, school, or books. Current events. Special events, such as graduation, birthdays or holidays. Favorite memories, particularly about the incarcerated parent. Provide updates on the child’s life, such as how the child is doing in school or in extracurricular events.
Some of these websites charge prisoners a fee for them to sign-up and others may charge users a fee to connect with prisoners. These websites may suggest that you use the website for friendship rather than for finding romantic relationships. The website may not verify any of the information provided by the prisoner. Look to see how long the website/company has been in business. Look for online reviews to see whether the company is considered reputable. [4] X Research source
Some incarcerated individuals may be seeking a romantic relationship. If you are not interested in pursuing a romantic relationship you should clearly and kindly explain your position. Some individuals may ask you for money or to do things for them outside of prison. You can politely refuse the request and explain that you will not be giving them money.
You should be prepared to maintain the correspondence for at least six months. Do not make any commitments that you feel that you can’t meet. Make sure that you follow any of the prison’s rules about what can and cannot be included in a letter (discussed below).
Your letters will be read by prison officials so it is important to refrain from discussing any criminal activity, or anything else prohibited by prison regulations. [5] X Research source
You can find a prison website by searching the internet for the name of the prison and the words: send mail to a prisoner. This search should direct you to either a website for a prison or to the governmental entity (state or federal) that manages the prison and sets forth regulations regarding prisoner correspondence.
Letters that have staples or paper clips. Cash. Cards with electronic components. Nude photographs or photographs which reveal genitalia, buttocks, or breasts. Polaroid photos. Any descriptions of physical violence. Any descriptions of drugs or other intoxicants. Any discussion or description of the use or construction of a weapon.
