You did the crime, now do the time! We’ve all heard this. St. Paul probably heard it , too, ‘way back in Biblical days, when he was jailed for his faith, although most people today are “in” for unholy acts. We call prisons “Correctional” and “Vocational” institutions. We want people to learn their lesson, get out, and “sin no more.” Meanwhile, they’re hardened by a solitary, harsh life, made worse by friends and family who forget about them.
But basic humanity calls us to remember all members of our community, to support and embrace even people who have made terrible mistakes and have tried to turn their lives around. You can help these people re-enter society as productive, law-abiding people simply by writing them, giving them a positive stake in the world they’ll be rejoining. I can tell you where to find names.
A little afraid? After research and years of writing prisoners, I’ve developed some simple guidelines to make writing a prisoner safe and comfortable for you. Let me know and I’ll send you that information.
Aren’t you scared they’ll bug you for money or look you up when they get out?
No, for two reasons. 1) I get names from others I’ve written to, and they not only screen them for me but make sure they treat me right. 2) I don’t use my actual house address as a return address. The guidelines explain how I do all this.