Pen-pal programs

Does anyone know of any that are good?  I checked out "Write-an-Inmate" but it seems to be full of guys are gals who are looking for something more than a platonic correspondence.  I don't have enough experience with meditation to be a mentor, and I think I'd be fooling myself and another if I passed myself off as anyone with any definitive answers.  But I am trying to sincerely follow Dharma, and am very open-minded and non judgmental.  So far, I'm writing people I know personally, but am willing to extend that circle to those I do not know, preferably for those looking for a spiritual friend.  

Any suggestions?  

With love,

~Aaron

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Permalink Reply by Tonia Davenport on November 8, 2010 at 2:29pm
June, Chris, John,
Do any of you have any advice for where I can go/what I need to do to start a correspondence with one or more people in prison? Apart from write-a-prisoner.com, is there somewhere I can go to begin such a connection?

Everything else has been very helpful on this thread--thanks for your thoughts.
Tonia
Permalink Reply by Chris de Ocejo on November 8, 2010 at 3:34pm
Hi Tonia,

Start where you are (if I can steal Pema Chodron's book title). Check with your local DOC; see what programs they have available.

Though, understand that if you want to help prisoners, there are far more unsexy jobs to do than there are sexy ones, and writing to prisoners is a sexy job.

When I say sexy, I mean sexy like being a doctor is sexy. It makes you sound like a real humanitarian: you know a lot, you save lives, you're "on the front line," you deal with the person needing help directly, all that stuff.

When I say unsexy, I mean unsexy like being a hospital administrator is unsexy. You're a glorified bureaucrat, you try to keep the hospital afloat financially, you get blamed for all the bad stuff that happens.

Thing is, a doctor saves a life here, a life there. Hospital administrators save hundreds, thousands of lives. When they're not saving lives, they're improving lives by making sure the sick have some place to go where the doctors have all the expensive stuff they need to cure them.

Personally, I admire the hospital admin more than the doc because there's no doubt she does it to help people, whereas the doc might be doing it because he likes being praised.

And in case you can't tell, I'm looking forward to tonight's episode of House, M.D.
Permalink Reply by Carter (PDN Admin) on November 10, 2010 at 11:32am
Thanks for sharing your wonderful insights, Chris!
Permalink Reply by Chris de Ocejo on November 10, 2010 at 12:08pm
Not a problem!

My favorite book says that it's easy to die for a cause. Living for a cause every day of the rest of your life, whether anybody else notices or cares.... that takes courage, commitment, and soul.

Lord knows I spend most of my life doing stuff to get recognized; I figure it's about time to try something a bit different.
Permalink Reply by Jane Braaten on March 6, 2013 at 11:05am

Chris, (In case you're still following this discussion) what are the 'unsexy' jobs that you're talking about? I take it you don't mean prison administration ...

Permalink Reply by Dina Mac on June 6, 2012 at 3:41pm

Dharma Companions, part of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, has a backlog of prisoners who want a penpal.

Just google dhama companions and you'll get the email address as well as physical address.

Dina

Permalink Reply by Carole Baker on December 15, 2010 at 11:02am

June,

 

Don't give up.   Often an inmate can't reply because of lack of stamps or writing paper.  It may be weeks or months before you get a return letter.

Carole

Permalink Reply by John Douglas on April 22, 2011 at 8:27pm
Is it possible to include a stamped self addressed envelope with paper when writing to prisoners, or does that depend on the particular prison?
John
Permalink Reply by Aaron Quinley on April 22, 2011 at 8:39pm

It would depend on the prison, and I'd be surprised to find one that allows that.  Even jails are very iffy about that.  It's often considered contraband, but often you can check out what various prisons allow through state DOC websites.  I recently got a dear friend to begin writing another dear friend in Federal prison.  The first friend managed to send me some stamps in the mail when I was in jail, and often I was allowed them.  She just tried to do the same for my friend in Federal prison, and they sent the whole letter back to her.  At least the jail would just confiscate the stamps and allow the letter.  This prison reject all contents based solely on that.



Permalink Reply by John Douglas on April 22, 2011 at 9:41pm

Thanks Aaron. Does anyone know if organizations like Prison Dharma Network would be exempt so they could send an introductory letter with a return envelope? Maybe that is not as big a problem as some make it out to be when they said prisoners did not reply to their letters and they thought they did not have the postage.

For anyone who knows someone or has experienced prison, how much money does an inmate make per week at prison jobs and how much is needed to spend for necessities ?

John

Permalink Reply by Aaron Quinley on April 22, 2011 at 9:57pm

I'm clueless about anything exempt.  Maybe someone here will know that answer.

 

Regarding prison wages, they are typically very modest.  Here in Va, inmates usually make around .25/hr, or less.  I talked to one guy who had a "good job" making .50 or .60 cents an hour.  I've heard of some Feds making under .20/hr, but the Feds also have some work programs that pay a few dollars an hour.  I have another friend making more than $4/hr in a call center, in prison.  So it really all depends, but most people I've talked to make under .50/hr. 

 

Necessities?  To each their own.  Many prisons/jails have indigent statuses for those with no extra income, and I believe through that they are often provided some basic necessities, and stamps (or "free mail") may be included.  It really all depends on what the prisons issue, and what the inmate feels is necessary.  I can say this much, every little bit helps.  Five bucks to me when I was in jail had more value than $100 does now, because I got it so rarely.  $5 bought me a couple pads of paper and ink that could last me a month or two, and since writing kept me grounded, it was more important than extra food.  I've sent some money to a few friends in prison--just $25 to a few guys, and $20 on a girl friend's j-pay.  They were all very grateful.  I should add they did not ask for this, nor hint at wanting or needing it.  I also know them personally though. 

 

John, I think my little ramble here has done everything but answer your questions!  :-0

Permalink Reply by Lisa Dahlquist on April 22, 2011 at 10:04pm
Allegra has one of the best jobs at NCCIW, and she makes 13 cents an hour.  She's told that they may give her a raise to 21 cents an hour after 6 months.  She really dislikes the job, so I don't think she'll have it long enough for the pay raise.

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