How to Write an Inmate Penpal - How to find an Inmate Penpal

Saint Michael Outreach Ministries

FAQ 1 – What is Prison Inmate Penpal?

Prison Inmate Penpal is a part of the Inmate Outreach Program of St. Michael Outreach Ministries. Prison Inmate Penpal lists a brief inmate biography and contact information by subscription as provided by the inmate. We also display inmate art, inmate poetry and other written works submitted by our inmate members.

These inmate profile listings assist the general public (must be 18 years or older to contact any inmate) in locating an inmate who he/she wishes to communicate with by mail on a personal level. All inmates listed on Prison Inmate Pen Pal have chosen to receive and welcome the communications from pen-pals from the general public.

It is our goal that the relationship between the inmate pen-pal and the public pen-pal be positive, compassionate, supportive and constructive. Helping the inmate through the development of compassionate supportive relationships. This can enable the inmate to obtain a greater benefit from their rehabilitation so they may return to society as positive, productive members of society reducing the chance for them to become a repeat offender.

Before you contact any inmate listed on Prison Inmate Pen Pal please read this first.

FAQ 2 – Can I write an inmate listed on Prison Inmate Penpal if I am not 18?

No. You must be at least 18 years of age.

This is not only our policy, but the Department of Corrections does not permit relationships (non-blood relationships) between inmates and minors.

Before you contact any inmate listed on Prison Inmate Pen Pal please read this first.

FAQ 3 – Can I email an inmate?

All inmate addresses listed on Prison Inmate Pen Pal are postal mail addresses only. If you would like to email an inmate, you can use our Email-to-Letter print and mail service. You will find a link on each inmate profile page to email an inmate.

Before you contact any inmate listed on Prison Inmate Pen Pal please read this first.

FAQ 4 – Can I send an inmate commercial advertisements?

No.

While most Departments of Correction encourage correspondence with inmates they do not condone unsolicited mail (especially commercial or advertorial mailings). Solicitation of prisoners is strictly prohibited by all State and Federal Correctional Facilities.

Before you contact any inmate listed on Prison Inmate Pen Pal please read this first.

FAQ 5 – How many inmates can I write?

You are free to write as many as you would like to write to. Being a pen-pal is an investment of time. You need to determine how much time you wish to allocate, this will help you determine how many pen-pals you should manage.

You may wish to write several to increase your chances in finding someone who you enjoy writing. As a reminder, you must be at least 18 years of age to write to the inmates listed on Prison Inmate Penpal.

Before you contact any inmate listed on Prison Inmate Pen Pal please read this first.

FAQ 6 – How do I write an inmate?

If you are 18 or older, use their postal address located on their profile listing. Be sure to use the complete address or the mail may be returned for being improperly addressed.

Before you contact any inmate listed on Prison Inmate Pen Pal please read this first.

FAQ 7 – I am unsure about writing an inmate. Do you have any advice?

It would be best to only provide a PO Box address for all communications, not your home address nor your phone number.

These are all convicted felons. As with any new stranger you may meet anywhere, you must always take precautions to safeguard yourself. Be careful of the personal information you disclose. Never disclose information about yourself or your family that you would not tell to the open public.

You are solely responsible for your actions and the decisions you make. Exercise good judgment and good common sense.

Before you contact any inmate listed on Prison Inmate Pen Pal please read this first.

FAQ 8 – How often do you list new inmate penpal profiles?

New profiles are scheduled for listing as they are received. Generally new listings submitted and paid for online are posted within 3-5 business days. New listings submitted via postal mail are posted within 7-10 business days once we have received all the necessary information and payment in full.

Before you contact any inmate listed on Prison Inmate Pen Pal please read this first.

FAQ 9 – Under contact information, what is the number next to the inmate name?

This is the correctional facilities inmate identification number. The inmate control number must be included when addressing postal mail to ensure proper delivery. It is also referred to as the Department of Corrections number.

Before you contact any inmate listed on Prison Inmate Pen Pal please read this first.

FAQ 10 – Do I have to be worried about scams when writing an inmate?

Unfortunately yes. As with anyone you would meet and establish a relationship with, there will always be a few bad apples that try to take advantage of people. This should not discourage someone from becoming a pen-pal. As with any new people you meet, exercise good judgment understanding there are limits on trust and that trust between 2 parties is something that is earned with time.

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Example 1 – They may misrepresent themselves through sending false photo’s etc. When this is discovered our policy is to pull the listing.

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Example 2 – They may also create a false story to gain sympathy for the purpose of asking you for money. The choice to send gifts or money is completely yours and you are solely responsible for the decisions you make. As with any relationship you may develop with any person, only you can determine what limits you wish to impose on the relationship.

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Example 3 – They may falsify a release date. While it is common to accept certain variables in their time server vs. determining an actual release date, it would be a clear misrepresentation for them to be spending life without the possibility of parole, yet tell you they will be released in a matter or months or a year or two. If the inmate misrepresents themselves to this effect, it is a policy violation and the listing will be pulled.

If you need to report a policy violation, you can do so here.

Before you contact any inmate listed on Prison Inmate Pen Pal please read this first.

FAQ 11 – How can I find out more about the inmate I am corresponding with?

You can contact the correctional facility they are located in by postal mail or telephone and make a request through the administration.

You can also check the correctional facility website for their state to see if an inmate search is available. If so, this should provide you with the information you are looking for.

If you would like to try searching the State or federal Department of Corrections database you can do so here.

Before you contact any inmate listed on Prison Inmate Pen Pal please read this first.

FAQ 12 – How can I locate an inmate?

You can check the correctional facility website from their state to see if an inmate search is available.

If you would like to try searching the State or Federal Department of Corrections database you can do so here.

Before you contact any inmate listed on Prison Inmate Pen Pal please read this first.

FAQ 13 – Do you post the inmates crime on their profile listings?

Yes, we post the inmates crime as in addition to other information contained in their listing provided directly by the inmate.

This allows you as a potential pen-pal to know as much about the inmate as possible so you may determine if this is someone who you would like to pursue a relationship with.

For full disclosure of the inmates crime and verification of other details pertaining to the inmate, we suggest you contact the correctional facility the inmate is located. You can do this either by postal mail, phone call or you may be able to find the information located within the correctional facilities website.

If you would like to try searching the State or Federal Department of Corrections database you can do so here.

Before you contact any inmate listed on Prison Inmate Pen Pal please read this first.

FAQ 14 – Can an inmate make or receive phone calls?

Most correctional facilities allow phone calls providing the inmate has phone privileges. Be advised however that they are costly and time as well as access to a phone is very restricted.

Give careful consideration before giving your phone number out to anyone.

Before you contact any inmate listed on Prison Inmate Pen Pal please read this first.

FAQ 15 – An inmate listed on Prison Inmate Penpal has a different release date than the release date listed with the Department of Corrections. Why?

There are certain variables when determining a prison release date such as, time off for good behavior, early release estimated through a pending appeal, early release estimated due to a parole hearing date etc.

The correctional facility does not factor these variables. It will generally list the release date as filed by the court upon initial conviction.

Before you contact any inmate listed on Prison Inmate Pen Pal please read this first.

FAQ 16 – Can I pay for an inmate profile listing?

Yes. You have several options.

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Option 1 – Profile Listing Information and Payment Submitted Online

Step 1 – If you already have all the inmates profile information necessary to post the listing. You can submit that information directly. Then proceed to submit a payment.

Step 2 – Once you have submitted payment, email us with the inmates full name and the payment receipt number. You can also attach up to 3 photos to the email (.jpg photo file – please do NOT ZIP photos – Zipped attachments will not be accepted). If you do not have a scanned .jpg photo, you will need to mail a photo (you can have up to 3 photos) to us by postal mail. Make sure you include the inmates full name, the inmates correctional facility identification number, the name and state of the correctional facility and the payment receipt number when sending us the photo. If there will be no photo in the listing, please remember to indicate that in the email confirmation you will be submitting. A photo can always be added at a later date at no charge.

The profile listing fee is only $25 US dollars for 48 months.

The start date of their listing will begin once we have received the listing information, photo and have posted the new listing.

You submit a profile listing information and payment online here: submit a profile listing and payment online.

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Option 2 – Postal Mail Delivery of Profile Listing Information and Payment

The application can be printed, completed and mailed by postal mail along with payment by cash or US Money Order for the listing fee. You can include up to 3 photos at that time. If you already have a scanned photo (up to 3 photos) in .jpg format you can email it to us (please do NOT ZIP photos – Zipped attachments will not be accepted) including the full inmate name, the inmates correctional facility identification number, the name and state of the correctional facility and the money order receipt number if paying by US Money Order. If you do not have a scanned photo, you can send a photo with the listing application and payment by postal mail.

The profile listing fee is only $25 US dollars by cash or US money Order for 48 months.

All payments by US Money Order should be made payable to : St. Michael Outreach Ministries

The start date of their listing will begin once we have received the information and have posted the listing.

You can print an inmate profile listing application located here: inmate profile listing application.

FAQ 17 – If an inmate profile listing has expired, can it be reactivated?

Yes. Providing it has not expired longer than 30 days.

We hold expired profiles inactive for a grace period of 30 days. This allows more than enough time for the subscription to be renewed.

After the 30 day grace period, if the profile subscription is not renewed all inmate profile content is deleted from our system. A new subscription will be required.

If you need to renew an inmates listing it can be done here: renew an inmate profile listing.

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Renewing Online – If you are renewing it online, once payment has been submitted please remember to email us with the inmates full name, the inmates correctional facility identification number, the name and state of the correctional facility and the payment receipt number so their account can be credited properly.

The Renewal fee is only $25 US dollars for a 48 month renewal.

If you need to renew an inmates listing it can be done here: renew an inmate profile listing online.

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Renewing by Postal Mail – Inmate profile listings can also be renewed by sending a US money order by postal mail. Make sure to include the inmates full name, the inmates correctional facility identification number and the name and state of the correctional facility so their account can be credited properly.

The Renewal fee is only $25 US dollars by cash or US Money order for a 48 month renewal.

All payments by US Money Order should be made payable to : St. Michael Outreach Ministries

All inmate profile renewals by postal mail should be mailed here: send an inmate profile listing renewal here.

FAQ 18 – How can an inmate profile listing be updated or modified?

Changes must be submitted in writing by the subscriber by postal mail without exceptions. All information change requests must come directly from the inmate.

They must write us directly to make any changes or to cancel their profile listing. No change requests or cancellation requests are accepted by the internet or by phone. This is to protect the interests of our subscribers.

All profile listing information should be mailed here.

FAQ 19 – How can an inmate profile listing be cancelled?

It can be let to expire at the end of the subscription term or the inmate subscriber can write us directly to request their profile listing be cancelled. Cancellation requests must be submitted in writing by the subscriber by postal mail without exceptions.

No cancellation requests are accepted by the internet or by phone. This is to protect the interests of our subscribers.

All cancellation profile listing cancellation requests should be mailed here.

FAQ 20 – How do I renew an inmate profile listing?

Inmate profiles listings can be renewed online or by postal mail.

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The Renewal fee is only $25 US dollars for a 48 month renewal.

If you need to renew an inmates listing it can be done here: renew an inmate profile listing online.

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Renewing by Postal Mail – Listings can also be renewed by sending a US money order by postal mail. Make sure to include the inmates full name, the inmates correctional facility identification number and the name and state of the correctional facility so their account can be credited properly.

The Renewal fee is only $25 US dollars by cash or US Money order for a 48 month renewal.

All payments by US Money Order should be made payable to : St. Michael Outreach Ministries

When paying by mail all profile listing renewals should be mailed here.

FAQ 21 – How long does it take to remove a profile listing once the inmate has requested it be cancelled?

Once the inmate has submitted in writing by postal mail to have their listing cancelled and it is received, the listings are deleted within 1-3 business days.

As a reminder, all cancellation requests must be submitted in writing by the subscriber without exceptions.

No cancellation requests are accepted by the internet or by phone. This is to protect the interests of our subscribers.

FAQ 22 – Can I request an inmate profile listing be removed from your site or make changes to their listing?

No.

All change requests or cancellation requests must be submitted in writing by the subscriber by postal mail without exceptions. All information change requests must come directly from the inmate.

FAQ 23 – My letter to an inmate was returned to me. Do you know why?

The most common reason is incorrect or incomplete address.

You must write the address exactly as it is displayed on their profile listing to ensure proper routing and delivery. This includes the inmate control number.

You must also provide and complete and accurate return address. If by chance the inmates postal address is incorrect, there is little we can do as we only post what has been provided to us with their profile information.

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