This can be a great way to start a conversation. You can also ask questions about this on our forum. Simply choose an organization or institution from the directory that you would like to help, and send your books directly to them. They sometimes outright lie to get money sent to them. The correspondence raises self-esteem and gives hope to the hopeless. These help fund victim/witness programs, shelters and reimburse out-of-pocket expenses for crime victims who may not be receiving restitution yet or at all in their case. If the change of address is verifiable online at the official state or federal website, you may use the Report an Address Change link found on each inmates profile. If you have a question or an area of concern not addressed in these topics, please use the Contact Us icon below to connect withDOC staff directly.In additional to this information, common questions DOC is often asked are here and may also be helpful. and public (crime, release date, etc.) Tue 18 Apr 2023 02.00 EDT. My WriteAPrisoner.com account was suspended by you. We are very customer oriented and we are the top ranked site, which means meet-an-inmate.com gets more visitors than any other inmate penpal site in the world. If a loved one or friend is incarcerated at one of the 25 Department of Corrections' (DOC) state correctional institutions (SCI), his or her incarceration generates a lot of questions from family members and friends on the outside of the SCI.. These rules and practices vary from prison to prison. Use implies acceptance of our Terms of Service & Privacy Policy. Why list an inmate with Meet-An-Inmate.com. I know an inmate who has a profile on your website, and it is about to expire. When an inmate's profile is placed on our website, a welcome packet, which includes a copy of the profile, is sent to them via postal mail explaining this policy in detail. WriteAPrisoner.com, Inc. | Better Business Bureau Profile All male inmates who enter the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC) are processed through the diagnostic and classification center (DCC) at the State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill, Cumberland County. 20. 2241 ). As long as the message has not been printed and sent yet, we can cancel it. If you are still unable to find an organization that is requesting the materials you wish to donate, consider emailing some of the programs directly and explain what you have. CPP is a faith based ministry which depends on donations to help with the costs of mailing. Option 4) Purchase an Inmate Profile as a Gift - Complete this form if you have the inmate's name, address, and want to purchase a profile as a gift. For Family and Friends is the heart of staying in touch with and supportingyour loved one or friend while they are incarcerated atDOC. Some of the organizations listed in the directory are not correctional facilities. Original artwork (no larger than 8 " x 11") may be substituted for a photo. Can you help me? Im very grateful. It is completely free to write the inmates. If you would like information on helping incarcerated minors, please visit a website that we have designed just for this purpose, CrimeFreeKids.com. Correspondence has brought me a sense of peace. One of two different options may happen: 20% is deducted for CVCF and for costs/fines/restitution off of the top of any incoming deposit made to an inmates account, 50% is deducted for CVCF until it is paid in full, then 20% starts for costs/fines/restitution. [30] A study conducted by the University of Louisville reported that not all inmates on the site accurately reported their crimes or release dates at one point. Enter the inmate's name and number below to begin. Please be very patient. If you are looking for an inmate currently listed on our website, please use our Inmate Alphabetical Profiles section. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The inmates listed are convicted felons and caution should be used. You can also check with your local library to see if they are getting rid of any books these organizations may need. They tend to be very supportive of inmates maintaining contact with the outside world. There are many official third-party services for pen-pals to email inmates. Step 4) Follow the prompts to complete canceling your account. 1072. Please contact us with specific details of what you are looking for. Its the benefit of establishing good friendships by helping them in the ways I can to show them someone cares as they do for me. Since then, we have expanded our services to include many features aimed directly toward reducing recidivism and raising awareness. We highly recommend attempting to look up their crimes before writing them. Who can call You must be over 18 and on the prisoner's list of friends and family. If the inmate has a DOC job working in the kitchen and the inmate receives a $50 paycheck, DOC will deduct $10. Studies have confirmed the act of maintaining a pen-pal relationship for an inmate has had proven benefits to the inmate's well-being, reform, and recovery from substance abuse. No copyrighted work will be accepted. Renewals can be made at any time. 21. Mom Accused of Hosting Teen Sex Parties 'Tore my Life Apart - People [17] WriteAPrisoner.com removed the profile at Smith's request. If someone else appears in the photo, please identify the inmate. To use this service, you must be at least 18 years of age. page. What types of profiles receive the most mail? Inmates who establish and maintain positive relationships with people outside of prison are less likely to return to prison in the future, also improving the inmates chances of successfully reintegrating into society when released. The benefits of correspondence are many for me. I found an inmate on your website who has a different release date than that of the one provided by their facility. JPAY provides the Department of Corrections with a sender name for each transaction. Do you have any suggestions for writing my first letter to an inmate? However, the inmate was sent a profile renewal letter from another company which implies that it is from your company. send all supporting documentation and information to us. What does it mean if an inmate photo or inmate crime is "verified"? 26. Fromer Avanir Pharmaceuticals sales representative Gregory Hayslette was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in a kickback scheme in which he paid two Cleveland area doctors to write . Please do not send any books you consider to be unusable. Click "Save" at the bottom of the page. This information is never provided to the public. True Hollywood Story. 0. While WriteAPrisoner.com does maintain its own Facebook Page, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, etc., we never post an inmates information directly on those accounts. Although we try, we can never determine the authenticity of every photo. Mail helps a lot. I only have a couple of books to donate. Remember that you chose to write to an inmate, not sponsor one. Do a good deed and write to prisoners today! Option 6) Renew Existing Inmate Profile - Complete this form to renew an inmate's profile before it expires. This can be a great way to start a conversation. Correspondence provides the benefits of meeting people from around the world who make you feel unforgotten and still part of the real world. Meet-an-Inmate.com has been helping male and female inmates connect with the outside world since 1998 and is ranked #1 among prison pen pal websites. These are fee-based services and are monitored by the institutions. I believe a minor in my care used your website to contact an inmate. Because books are heavy, be sure the packaging is substantial and taped well. How do I do this? Although the site provides no Internet access of any kind to inmates, it has often been called the MySpace and Facebook for inmates[4][5][6] by the media. What can I do? Please note that we are unable to help you retrieve your account if you deleted it yourself. Can I write to an inmate in any language? It is recommended that you do not send cash, personal checks, stamps, stationery, or any items of any kind without first checking with the institution at which the inmate is incarcerated. Can I send your inmates commercial advertisements? This is because inmates will often factor in gain time, pending appeals, etc. We need this in case you decide to write to an inmate through our email forwarding option. Home | Lady Inmates | Newest Ladies | Male Inmates | Newest Men | List An However, please know that the inmate will still be able to add any missing information after the profile is posted. Our staff will verify the address change, and the profile will be updated accordingly. In many cases, even educational programs and materials are free to inmates. Even when family gives up on you, the website shows that theres a stranger out there who cares. This method is optimal for sending books and is less expensive compared to first class rates. By signing up as a Pen Pal, you understand that you are obligating yourself to witness to a prisoner via regular mail and you affirm that you are at least 18 years of age. WriteAPrisoner.com is an online Florida-based business. Frequently Asked Questions for writing inmates - Meet-An-Inmate.com Option 2) You can print and send the brochure yourself. Why did this happen? [23] Artist Benjamin Wills' popular exhibit Airplanes at the Kansas City Public Library featured paper airplanes made by inmates contacted through the site. Mail call is never the same. You must be at least 18 years of age. Also, your local religious centers may let you use their address. It is not wise for someone under 18 to write a prisoner nor is it wise for a prisoner to write someone under 18. Sometimes in this busy world, it is nice to find someone who truly cares what you have to say. There are still some institutions practicing conjugal visits. This is done for their protection. You can learn more about the inmate from the facility where they are housed. If you are unable to verify which languages are permitted, it is safest to send the message in English. I am not receiving emails from WriteAPrisoner.com. The Department of Corrections (DOC) understands and encourages communication with a family member or friend who is incarcerated. Can I directly send inmates gifts, such as stamps or stationery? Do you offer a refund? Writing to a prisoner comes with responsibilities, and we encourage you to do some research before making this decision. The inmate ID must be referenced and the check can be mailed to the institution where the inmate is housed. For more information on reporting and researching postal fraud, please visit: Detecting & Reporting Fraud. We ask that inmates consider the time it takes their institution to issue funds when estimating profile posting date. These inmates are very real and are seeking pen pals! (Use Participant Name and select Criminal for the Docket Type in the drop down menu will yield the most search results. Your efforts could very well be the difference between someone going out and changing their life, or ending up back in prison. Is it a requirement to post a photo with the profile? If the inmate has stated that we are not responding to their requests for removal, this is incorrect. Another option may be to use your post office's General Delivery service. By using this service, you agree to not hold us responsible for any costs, liabilities, attorney's fee, or damages that you may incur. WriteAPrisoner.com - Home - Facebook Edgewater, FL 32132-0010 USA. PrisonInmates.com - Prison Pen Pal Service / Write A Prisoner Step 3) Scroll to the bottom and click "Cancel Account" What should I do? An inmate I am writing to has asked for money. [1] Studies show many inmates have experienced trauma early in their lives that may have been the impetus for the actions that led to incarceration. The site has been featured on many programs including 20/20[20] and E! Inmates must submit in writing that they want their profile removed. Inmates can use money in prison to purchase a variety of items including better quality hygiene products, art supplies, postage, phone cards, and food in some cases. Why? Its purpose is to give the viewer an idea of the crime. What is this $60 for? [19] The site later issued a press release apologizing and stating that the term had been taken out of context. Read more here. While we strongly support family and friends maintaining contact with underage persons incarcerated, we will never facilitate mail for minors. The site encourages writing directly to inmates or sending a first message through its free e-mail forwarding service. There are several legitimate reasons why an inmate suddenly stops writing. Here are three questions to ask yourself before writing your letter to an inmate: 1.) No, please do not send your books to WriteAPrisoner.com. If an inmate is sent $100, DOC will deduct $20. ), stickers, or money - until you know the rules of a particular institution. Can you help? Once you make this change, you should start receiving our emails again. We also encourage you to visit our Prison Forum to engage with other members about related topics, such as what to expect when you meet an inmate, death row, correspondence, visitation, different departments of corrections, and more. If an inmate is sent $100, DOC will deduct $20. Please help by spreading the word. [39] In 2015, University of Warwick shared findings of research at the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Festival of Social Science. Although Meet-An-Inmate is an Online service, prisoners do not have access to the internet. You will make a difference in someone's life - including . For example, if someone is issued a speeding ticket, that fine is $50, but the total of the ticket is approximately $200 because of the fines, fees and costs added to it. Any additional amount added can be used at the inmate's discretion for edits or additions to their profile. The crime we place is generic and rarely includes all offenses. We also HIGHLY encourage going through a reputable service, such as writeaprisoner.com which is a website that creates profiles for prisoners, and links them to good people such as yourself. Meet-An-Inmate connects people like you with inmates from across the United States, and offers an easy way to brighten up an inmates day. Business Profile WriteAPrisoner.com, Inc. Once we receive their written request, a confirmation letter is mailed back to them. The site has previously collaborated with the ACLU and the Florida Justice Institute regarding rights of inmates[46] and has been represented by the Florida Justice Institute. [2][3], There are approximately 17,000 inmates profiled on the site, most of whom are incarcerated in the United States; however, the site also includes international inmates. The survey must contain a return address, and it must fit onto one page, front and back print. If everything appears correct, the inmate may have changed locations without telling us, or we may have not had a chance to update the address yet. Our success lies with our word of mouth advertising between inmates who have had success using our service. I sent you an email, but you didn't reply. No business may be conducted through the profile. I wrote to an inmate on your website, and the letter was returned to me.