#Prison Pen Pal

[raelynnteam]

Ashley and Jaina painted this table at the prison. They've been painting a lot, adding some color to the dining room and cells.

I send them reference pictures to help them draw characters from dragon ball, yuh-gi-oh, magic the gathering, and more. It's one of the small ways i can help as their pen pal.

Check out the organization Black & Pink to learn how you can help queer and trans prisoners!

[creepy-bi-day]

HCs for Brian with a pen pal while he’s in prison?

Gasp. Fucking bet fam also I feel @dangelus would enjoy this too

Prison Brian with a pen pal

Tbh he probably didn’t do it willingly

He thinks the whole thing is kind of dumb at first

Probably makes comments about how his pen pal is probably either some random kid just doing an assignment or someone with hybristophilia

And how he wouldn’t really mind the latter

Bonus points if the person actually seems chill

If the two aforementioned theories prove wrong, you have a shot of actually getting a friend

He’d be flattered if they show up to visit him, even if he doesn’t look like it

He’s very very good at masking his emotions, and doesn’t really show anything. Kind of just sits there with his arms crossed

As you get to know him through, you’ll learn to pick out the slight differences in his eyes.

He’s very open about his crimes, and shrugs off any questions of why

“Why not?”

Overall, kind of standoffish and aggressive but if you break him out of his shell, he’ll go to bat for you

[jenmedsbookreviews]

Love Letters To A Serial Killer by Tasha Coryell

Today i am sharing my thoughts on Love Letters To A Serial Killer by Tasha Coryell. @tashacoryell @orionbooks #books #bookreview #loveletterstoaserialkiller #bookstagram #booksofinstagram

Today I am sharing my thoughts on Love Letters To A Serial Killer by Tasha Coryell, a book I picked up an arc of up at Harrogate last summer. My thanks to publisher Orion for the copy. It’s the author’s debut novel but, based on this, I’m definitely going to be back for more. Here’s what it’s all about: Continue reading Love Letters To A Serial Killer by Tasha Coryell

[unknownmads]

CANT STOP THINKING ABOUT INMATE TOJI AND CUTE LITTLE Y/N WHOS SO NAIVE TO BIG BAD TOJI

CW: Slight smut (mentions of his pp🤭)

☆☆☆

thinking about Prison toji who you met when your college has you do a little project in your criminal psychology class. The project was make a penpal get to know them ask why they are in prision, what their lives before was like, do they regret what they did etc. basic questions of course all you had to do was get the most information out of the penpal about their personal lives as you could.

Prison Toji who only signed up for the program because it was part of his latest court order saying he ‘needed more understanding’ so a penpal would give him a friend while they stay safe😭 he ofc hated the idea and thought it was the dumbest shit ever. until he got his first letter, from you (duh).

Prison toji who got mail for the first time and it was a little white envelope with a cute little sticker sealing it. He deadpanned *is my penpal an idiot these letters are for a prison not a daycare* he silently judges examining every detail as he opened the letter. i read the letter taking in every little personal detail you shared with him, your cute little name, how you loved your cat, how you’re new to the city only just moving for school, of course the boring questions for him as well. But at the very end of the letter he noticed an extra little note.

Ps. i left a few photos of myself along with some of my cat! i think it’s only fair since i got to see your photo on the website

Prison toji who grabs the envelope he previously had thrown to the side and pulls out 3 polaroids. One of you and probably your cat you’re dragging it into the photo with a big grin on your face. the second is a photo of your face a soft smile on your lips meant for whoever took the photo but Toji couldn’t help but wonder if that little smile was for him. Until he pulls out the third photo it’s a full view of you, you’re out in the city dressed all out, and Toji couldn’t help but know you chose that photo just for him.

Prison Toji who can’t wait to finally get some alone time so he can truly appreciate your pretty photos. And immediately goes to write you back answering all your cute little questions. Telling you where he lived before, how he ended up there, telling you what he did for work before (Surprise he sold drugs😍), telling you what he does to occupy his time here (he works out he just wanted an excuse to tell you how strong he is), and he asks you some questions.

Prison Toji who has been relentlessly flirting with since you started writing to him, asking if you had a boyfriend, how your school was going, why you moved to the city, how a cute lil thing like you is still single. You had been writing each other for a few weeks now which is a lot less than you think when you know how long mail takes. But your letters to each other are long. answering every little thing each other asks, learning about one another more and more. You had really connected so you finally ask him the big question he read the words as clear as day.

~Do you think i could come pay you a visit? ~

Prison Toji who had to immediately write back answering the most important question first.

~ And doll, you can come visit me anytime id love to finally meet you and see your pretty face in person~

he wanted to be nonchalant.

Prison Toji who was sitting in bed looking at your photos when he was called

“Zenin, you’ve got a visitor. away from the door.”

Prison Toji silently followed standing on the other side of the cell while the guard came in to handcuff him and bring him to the visiting area. Once he was in the room his cuffs connecting him to the table he waited. until he heard the door open again. He felt his cock twitch in his pants as he saw the guard guide you in. You were wide eyed taking in the new environment until they landed on him.

Prison Toji was large, you knew he was tall and muscular thanks to his letters and photo but nothing could have prepared you for the real deal. Eyes widening even more when you fully take him in. seated At the grey metal table his hands on the table as the guard had told him to. his hair poking at his eyes which were staring drinking you in. his lip in a smirk helping you notice the scar on it which you couldn’t really see from the grainy prison photos. His shirt stretched against his muscles showing off a few tattoos hidden along his skin. the view making you squeeze your thighs together to release some of the pressure building.

Prison Toji who took in as much of you as he could as he watched you shuffle into your seat across from him, enjoying how you squirmed slightly within his gaze, his smirk growing into an almost full smile.

“hey doll it’s good to finally meet you.”

[friends4prisoners]

The Function of Pen Pal Programmes in Deterring Crime

Intro

Although it is a form of retribution for crimes committed, incarceration also represents a period of social isolation and frequently results in recidivism. Inmates can now communicate with people outside of prison walls through pen buddy programmes, which foster connections and offer both emotional and practical help. By providing convicts with the assistance and resources they need to successfully reintegrate into their communities after release, these programmes can significantly contribute to lowering recidivism rates in addition to assisting inmates in maintaining a sense of connection to society. This article will examine the role of pen pal programmes in preventing crime, emphasizing its advantages, effects, and successful applications.

 The Link Between Social Isolation and Crime

The relationship between social isolation and criminality is well recognized. According to studies, those who are socially isolated and without assistance are more likely to commit crimes. The sensation of social isolation is much more acute in the setting of incarceration since inmates are frequently cut off from their families, friends, and communities. When a person is isolated, it can lead to feelings of pessimism and alienation, which makes it more challenging for them to reintegrate into society after being released. Pen buddy programmes can aid in overcoming this isolation by giving prisoners a sense of community, emotional support, and helpful advice that can lower their risk of engaging in criminal behaviour both inside and outside of jail.

 How Pen Pal Programs Can Help Inmates Combat Social Isolation

Pen buddy programmes can give prisoners a way to counteract social isolation, which has been associated with greater recidivism rates. Inmates can develop friendships and a sense of connection to the outside world through writing with pen pals. This can offer encouragement and emotional support, making it simpler to handle the pressures of prison life and lowering the likelihood of mental health problems. Additionally, pen pal programmes provide a view into the outside world, assisting offenders in maintaining perspective and realizing how their actions affect others. Each of these elements has the potential to lower the probability of recidivism and potentially deter future criminal activity.

 The Benefits of Emotional Support in Reducing Recidivism

According to studies, emotional bonds and social support are crucial in lowering recidivism rates. Through pen pal programmes, inmates are less likely to experience feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, or dehumanization, all of which might encourage criminal behaviour. Additionally, receiving emotional support can improve an inmate's self-worth, sense of purpose, and general mental health, all of which are important for aiding their successful reintegration into society after release. Pen buddy programmes can help to lower the risk of recidivism by addressing the underlying emotional needs of prisoners by providing a sense of connection, validation, and support.

 The Role of Practical Support in Reducing Recidivism

Pen buddy programmes offer offenders both emotional and practical help, which can be very important in lowering recidivism rates. Ex-offenders encounter numerous difficulties after being released, such as locating housing, work, and community resources. Pen pals can offer guidance on how to access support services, help with job seeking, and give information on housing alternatives. Pen pals can aid ex-offenders in successfully reintegrating into society by offering practical support, which lowers the likelihood that they will commit crimes again. The encouragement provided by pen pal programmes can significantly improve the lives of prisoners and foster a safer, more cohesive neighbourhood.

 The Impact of Empathy and Understanding in Deterring Crime

Deterring crime and lowering recidivism rates are greatly helped by empathy and understanding. Pen buddy programmes give prisoners the chance to communicate with people outside the jail and obtain a better understanding of life and society. Inmates can gain empathy and understanding for others through these ties, which can have a significant influence on their behaviour. Inmates may be more inclined to make wise decisions and abstain from criminal activities if they can see how their acts affect others and can comprehend the larger effects of their conduct. This demonstrates the vital role that pen pal programmes have in encouraging rehabilitation and lowering recidivism rates.

 The Importance of Rehabilitation and Reintegration in Reducing Recidivism

Reduction of recidivism rates depends heavily on rehabilitation and reintegration. The objective of rehabilitation for prisoners is to give them the knowledge, training, and assistance they will need to properly reintegrate into society after they are released. This includes having access to programmes for job training, education, and treatment for mental illness and substance abuse. By giving prisoners the emotional and practical support they need to succeed outside of prison, pen buddy programmes play a significant role in assisting the process of rehabilitation and reintegration. Pen buddy programmes can assist to lessen the stigma that frequently surrounds incarceration and boost the likelihood of a successful reintegration by providing a sense of connection to the outside world and encouraging empathy and understanding.

 Examples of Successful Pen Pal Programs and Their Impact on Inmates

Numerous effective pen pal initiatives have been effective in lowering recidivism rates. Prison Fellowship's "Prison Pen Pal" programme pairs inmates with volunteers who offer moral assistance and emotional support. A study found that programme participants had a 34% decrease in recidivism compared to non-participants. "Friends for Life," another popular programme that matches inmates with mentors who assist them be ready for life outside of jail, pairs inmates with mentors. By providing supportive services including job training and education, the programme has proven to lower the risk of recidivism. These initiatives show the beneficial effects of pen buddy services on recidivism reduction and successful reintegration into society.

 Changing Perceptions of Incarcerated People via Pen Pal Programmes: Overcoming Stigma

Reducing recidivism rates and preventing crime require overcoming the stigma associated with those who have been behind bars. By creating empathy and understanding between convicts and people outside of prison walls, pen pal programmes can be a significant factor in improving public opinions of prisoners. Pen pals can broaden their perspectives on the criminal justice system and the people it affects by getting to know people from varied life experiences and backgrounds. A more sympathetic and successful approach to rehabilitation and reintegration may result from this improved understanding, which can also lessen the stigmatization of those who are imprisoned. Pen buddy programmes can aid in changing public opinions of those who are imprisoned and advancing a more equitable and just society in this way.

 Conclusion: The Crucial Function of Pen Pal Programs in Deterring Crime.

As a result of lowering recidivism rates, pen pal programmes play a significant role in crime prevention. These initiatives offer emotional and practical support to prisoners, assist in preventing social isolation, and promote compassion and understanding between the jail population and the general public. Inmates develop a sense of community outside the prison walls, which they might use to their advantage after they are released. Pen pal programmes provide a potent tool for lowering crime and encouraging positive change through rehabilitation and reintegration. A successful pen pal programme that has improved the lives of numerous prisoners is Friends 4 Prisoners, just one example.

[marsnept]

[athena411-blog]

A short and spooky tale of infatuation 

[enbycarp]

Hey all, it's Juneteenth. I feel like this is a good day to talk about folks in prison.

I'm pen pals with several folks in prison. I've been doing this for many years now, and i think it's one of the most important things I've ever done. I started because i was interested in prison abolition, and i was told this was the way to get started in that movement. It's also a way to invest in our communities. Because queer, poc, poor, and disabled communities are disproportionately affected by the industrial prison complex. It's our people who are being thrown into cages and often being forgotten, tortured, enslaved, and denied their rights. We can invest in our communities and participate in mutual aid no matter what our resources or ability levels are. Being a pen pal requires investing a pretty small amount of time and money. Literally, if you can write a letter, you can do it (and often, you can send the letters online, so you don't even need paper).

I have made some true friends as a pen pal. People who have offered me support as much as i have offered them. I have one pen pal who i can talk to about things that i don't talk about with anyone else.

I won't lie, it's not always easy. There have been a couple pen pals that i didn't get along with well. I had to tell them that it wasn't working and gently end our correspondence. I've had two pen pals that stopped writing to me after they got out, and i just have to hope that they're ok out there. And these folks put up with really hard, sometimes horrifying shit inside. It can be hard to process that. Though, I've known other folks with pen pals who clearly set boundaries about what they're comfortable talking about and that's worked for them. I've had a pen pal ask me to do more than i was able to do for them, and i had to tell them no. They understood. You have to be able to set boundaries in any relationship, though.

You get to decide what you can do to help a pen pal. For some of us, that's just writing letters. I sometimes send gifts to folks (mostly books from Amazon). For one of my pen pals, i look up info about magic the gathering or D&D because she plays those games inside. For another, i wrote a letter to help support her case for getting a shorter sentence. One friend likes me to look up facts about his favorite actresses and sports teams. When one friend was facing transphobic discrimination, i organized a call in to the superintendent (and we really helped her). Some pen pals are looking for romantic connections (they generally tell you up front of that's the case). Many queer prisoners just need a connection to their community.

Please at least check out www.blackandpink.org and learn about what being a pen pal can mean for people on the inside. That organization has connected me with several queer pen pals. Even if you're not going to sign up to be a pen pal, just take a few minutes to learn about it.

Thanks!

Ps: you can ask me if you have any questions about

[pinksiames]

We the best🔥‼️ me and @clevenhq doing another one

But this time prison pen pals!!

Gale who saw an ad in the paper about writing to inmates at the local prison, giving reasons on why it helps them rehabilitate by talking to people that aren’t family, how it helps them still feel connected to the outside world. With nothing better to do Gale does down the list of names, skimming past a few until reaching John “Bucky” Egan - incarcerated for aggravated assault and Manslaughter.

It immediately peaks gales interest, so he writes out his letter, listing his name, hobbies, what he enjoyed doing day to day, and small pieces of information about himself such as his eye color and hair color. He sends it off the same day and gets one back addressed to Buck a few days later, confused at the name and thinking it was mail for someone else until he opened it up, realizing that it was his pen pal Bucky who had given him his own name as a nickname.

He tells Gale how it’s been hard not having someone to write back to, how lonely it gets in his cell when mail call comes. He’s light on the details on why he got locked up but from what Gale gathered the dude he accidentally killed deserved it. So they keep writing, week after week telling each other news, stories, bits and pieces of information, and at about the 5 month mark of them talking Bucky asks Gale to come down and visit him, putting his name down as a visitor. So Gale goes and visits.

Practically shaking the whole way there because he’s about to meet a man who killed another because he laid his hands on his little sister. Once inside and led back to the visitation room he sits down, leg bouncing anxiously since he’s never seen Bucky and buckys never seen him. Never felt comfortable sending a photo in with his letters, but his jaw is on the floor seeing this huge bear sized man come walking down, huge arms, broad shoulders, thick legs, just overall BIG, but then he looks up at his face and hes got the biggest puppy dog smile on his face before sitting down, shoulders almost touching both sides of the little box.

“Bucky?”

“Buck?”

“You know it’s Gale”

“Yea but what kind of name is Gale, so I just gave you mine since I can’t give you my last name yet”

And then it turns into Buck visiting every week, still sending letters to each other but it grows from friendship to relationship, flirting more and more, Gale slipping “special” photos in, and Bucky talks about Gale constantly to the point the other inmates know him, sneaking peaks during visiting hours. And the day finally comes and buckys let out on parole and the sex is ROUGH, on the counters, on the floor, bed, couch, patio, everywhere they can. They kiss and touch each other like it could be their last, Bucky practically manhandling the man every chance he gets, gales very happy he read the ad in the paper that day

[mlentertainment]

dinner in america needs to be beamed into my brain at all times. i need an iv drip made of patty's stickers and simon's zingers and i need watermelon blasting and i need the score to accompany me every time i walk around

[ghostsgrazing]

imagine if fred had to find a former federation experiment and he doesn't know its tubbo because he only has old photos for reference

[raelynnteam]

About us

Hi all, I'm just making a new pinned post.

This blog is a place for three trans prisoners to share their experiences. We started when Jaina and Ashley were unfairly punished and we asked the community for help. You can read more about that here. Now Jaina, Ashley, and Pharaoh are sharing their experiences and art here.

Jaina (she/her) is a trans woman with a passion for writing, dungeon and dragons, Rick and Morty, and crafting creative boxes out of items she can get in prison. She and Ashley have unofficially adopted each other as sisters.

Ashley (she/her) is also a trans woman who runs the D&D games (as well as pathfinder), plays Magic the Gathering (with playing cards that have the MtG card text written on them, a popular game at the prison), draws, paints, and loves video games. Check out her deviant art here.

Pharaoh (they/them) is a gender nonconforming person who loves drawing, painting, gardening, drag, and motorcycles. They cook meals for the three of them with what the three of them can purchase with their limited funds. You can purchase Pharaoh's art at enbywerewolf's etsy store.

This blog is run by @enbycarp. I'm a nonbinary trans guy (they/he) who is penpals with all three of the blog contributors. My art blog is @enbywerewolf

If you'd like to write to Ashley, Jaina, or Pharoah, please send me a message and I can share their contact information.

[the-mercy-workers]

What are prison pen-pals? Prison pen-pals are inmates who exchange letters with non-incarcerated pen-pals. Inmates have been turning to our WriteAPrisoner.com program since its inception in 2000 to find mentors, legal aid, educational opportunities, employment upon release, counseling, housing options, and so much more. We post profiles, photos, and contact information of inmates. You, the viewer, can then select which prisoners you would like to correspond with, both men and women, after viewing personal (interests, goals, etc.) and public (crime, release date, etc.) information. Once you have selected a prison pen-pal to correspond with, you have the option of sending your first message free of charge. Contact with prison pen-pals is then maintained via postal mail or programs like CorrLinks and JPay. Inmates cannot access their WriteAPrisoner.com profiles online in any capacity. We are a pen-pal website only. Inmates pay for pen-pal profiles. That income is used for operating costs as well as our Scholarships, Welcome Home Kits, Reintegration Profiles, and other community programs targeted at reducing recidivism. Research shared on our Why WriteAPrisoner page and the Federal Bureau of Prisons shows that both male and female prison pen-pals who establish and maintain positive contacts outside of prison walls, pursue educational opportunities, and seek normalization through friendship, are less likely to re-offend. Inmates from county jails, state prisons, federal prisons, on death row, and in rehabilitation centers across the country have posted profiles. We also have prisoners listed from outside of the United States. You can conduct an inmate search of inmates not listed on our website by using our Inmate Locator. 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.

[bigredneck]

South Oklahoma city Oklahoma hit me up

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"Literary prizes go to prison inmates," Montreal Star. February 28, 1969. Page 30. ---- By DUSTY VINEBERG The Creative Awards Association yesterday presented awards for fiction and poetry to three inmates of the Special Correctional Unit, the super-maximum security installation at St. Vincent de Paul.

The Association is a private organization only a little over a year old which has been running classes in art, literature, theatre and other activities every week night at Leclerc Institute, another part of the St. Vincent de Paul complex.

The CAA also handed out five prizes to men in Leclerc who produced work in the creative writing program.

All work was read and judged by novelist Hugh MacLennan, Professor of English at McGill University.

To be published On the strength of his judgment that, though sometimes uneven, it has literary merit, program coordinator Mrs. Gertrude Katz is assembling it for publication.

The winning entry. "Stanley P. U. Smart," which brought its writer the $100 award. is about an old man searching for proof of his identity to present to pension authorities. According to Mrs. Katz, it is characterized throughout by skillfully suggested meanings on several levels and evocative descriptive passages.

The awards were presented by Mrs. Kay Lines, president of the CAA, in the Special Correctional Unit. At the time this installation was

built, outcries were raised against its windowless, super-security atmosphere. It has been open only a year, under the direction of War- den Jean Pagé and Assistant Warden Jacques Lessard.

Mrs. Katz said she originally started working with one inmate within its walls. Subsequently she asked poet Irving Layton to give the men a poetry reading which sparked more of them to try this form of self-expression. She says that as soon as an inmate shows signs of producing a sizable amount of work, "I get him someone to work with him."

The volume of work to be read and criticized and the correspondence involved make it difficult for one per son to handle many inmates, she said.

At the moment, poet George Bowering is working with one English-speaking inmate and Leandré Bergeron, Professor of Contemporary French Literature at Sir George Williams University. is handling the work of three French-speaking men. Also in the program is fourth-year McGill University English major René Akstinas, who has taken on two young prisoners.

Not censored Prison authorities permit manuscripts to go back and forth through the mail uncensored. The relationship between the writer and his editor is apt to be intense. The man who wrote the winning story calls Mrs. Katz his "mentor" (sometimes tormentor, he adds.) and has developed a protective attitude towards her while making it clear that "she does not know everything about prisons yet.'

Both the contact with "outsiders" and the feeling that people care are important to inmates.

The CAA group has based their program of studies, taught by talented teachers, on the idea that "it may be superheated but wrongly directed intelligence, in correlation with environment and various sorts of exacerbated sensibilities, that land men in trouble in the first place."

As Mrs. Lines puts it: non-conforming people are usually creative. Criminals are non-conforming. Therefore, criminals may be creative."

CREATIVE EFFORT RECOGNIZED: Mrs. Kay Lines, president of the Creative Awards Association, and creative writing coordinator Mrs. Gertrude Katz give awards to three inmates in the Special Correctional Unit at St. Vincent de Paul.

Staff Photo by Paul Tallleter

[simplysimonesprisonpenpals]