PRISONFRIENDSHIP - Write a prisoner
- prison pen pals

We believe that all prisoners benefit from the support and encouragement of non-incarcerated individuals. Having a connection with someone in the free world significantly affects the inmates thinking, attitude, and behavior… not to mention the powerful impact it has on their well being as a whole. No matter the reason to write a prisoner, becoming a pen-pal to an inmate in jail will make a huge difference in their life.

Whether your potential penpals are in county jail, State prison, Federal prison, detention facilities or pre-release rehabilitation & correction centers… Your pen pal will greatly appreciate your companionship. Communicating with a prisoner gives them an outlet to express themselves from behind the walls. You’ll discover through your correspondence that even though these women and men inmates are locked up, they still have so much to offer.

Being a pen-pal is rewarding in many ways, so don’t wait! Write a letter or send an email to someone behind bars. Reach out today and write a prisoner. You will make a difference in someone’s life – including your own.

Based on our own experience and information provided by prison advocacy groups & the Federal Bureau of Prisons, pen-pal programs such as PrisonFriendship.com have consistently reduced recidivism rates among incarcerated individuals. Prisoners who have strong support systems independent of their immediate family makes the transition back into society much easier; therefore, pen pal programs like PrisonFriendship play a major role in an offender’s reintegration and reentry into their communities.

It has also been documented that many of the prisoners suffer from emotional and mental disorders. According to a recent study in the UK about half of all female inmates (49%) and a quarter of male prisoners (23%) suffer from anxiety and/or depression. Suicide is another issue that plagues incarcerated adults. About 30% of those who commit suicide have no contact with the outside world.

Becoming a pen pal helps reduce the feelings of loneliness that isolation creates. Being a friend to someone in jail also helps with their self image which generates happiness and a sense of hope for the future. So why write a prisoner? Because you can literally give someone the hope they need that saves their life. So look through our PRISON PEN PALS today and find your new friend

It must be noted that prisoners are not the only ones who benefit from pen pal correspondence. Elizabeth Greenwood is a journalist and author of “Love Lockdown: Dating, Sex and Marriage in America’s Prisons“. She concluded after interviewing several women that friendships and relationships with men incarcerated had a positive effect on their lives. It boosted their self-esteem and reduced fear & insecurity. This new found confidence led to greater productivity in their lives. Many of these women went back to school, started new careers or businesses and became social activists in the community.

So why write a prisoner?

Because inmates aren’t the only people who benefit from pen pal friendships. Being there for someone else, is also being there for yourself too. Outside of being an inspiration and agent of change in a prisoner’s life, becoming a pen pal can build a lifelong friendship. Men and women prisoners have a lot to offer and can really be the kind of friend you need in your life. Most of the inmates who took the time to think about their choices and really work on themselves, have become better people. As a result, they have transformed who they are and are worthy of genuine friendship.

So why make an inmate connection? Because having a few prison penpals adds something meaningful to your life and makes the world a better place through it all.

Do you have any questions on how to write a prisoner you don’t know? 

Check out our FAQ or our more information page!