This is a privately owned informational website that is not owned or operated by any state government agency.

If you have any questions about this domain name or website, please contact us here.

Prison Pen Pals Search Websites

Over the decades, Pen Pals Programs have helped prisoners find mentors, legal assistance, educational opportunities, employment after release, counseling, housing options, and much more. These websites publish inmates' bios, images, and contact details.

Note that pen pal programs are for male and female adult offenders and members of the LGBTQ community in prison. There are no pen pal programs for juveniles as many states regard juvenile records as not public records according to the Freedom of Information Act.

These websites are owned by;

— Religious organizations
— Non-governmental organizations
— Individuals

Although you must pay for pen pal services, some websites allow you to send your first message for free once you've chosen a prisoner pen pal with whom to correspond. Afterward, you can pay for various services using postal mail or applications like CorrLinks and JPay.

Note that inmates pay for pen-pal profiles, and the funds collected by these websites go toward programs and non-profit organizations that help lower recidivism and help released inmates with a place to live or work in the state or nation. Other funds are spent on operating expenses, scholarships, and reintegration profiles.

Why do People Search for Prison Pen Pals?

Many individuals start a correspondence with a prisoner for various reasons and opinions on the experience. They search for a pen pal in jail using a website or pen pal programs. Having an imprisoned pen pal allows you to help someone who would not otherwise have the chance to engage in constructive social contact.

However, you should note that some inmates do not even want to be your friend but instead extort you for free presents, money, or legal assistance. This has contributed to jails discouraging and forbidding pen pals from sending inmates any money or presents.

Some believe convicts are on the lookout for love, and some websites cater to that and provide various profiles for you as searchers to select whomever you want. On the other hand, others believe that inmates may need a source of funds, especially if they do not have any prison jobs or relatives to help them cater to their needs, such as medical services and commissary goods.

Others want a genuine and normal communication connection with prison inmates.

Why do Inmates Need Pen Pals?

There is various reason why inmates require prison pen pals. As reasons vary, most of them want to interact with people outside their walls since their isolation from the rest of society makes many prisoners feel lonely and depressed.

Inmates' attention in prison is in high demand. This shows inmates do not have family members, relatives, or friends outside. As a result, they end up being so depressed that they engage in other alternatives to dealing with their situation, such as drug and substance abuse. So having one pen pal on the outside may change an inmate's perspective of life.

Some need someone who can help them financially or with legal support. Because some lack people who can support them in jail, they must find alternatives. On the other hand, some seek to establish a romantic relationship.

How do the Prison Pen Pal Websites Work?

Initially, the prison pen pal program was introduced to inmates as a rehabilitation program. It involved letter writing on paper and pictures sent. However, these programs have blended with modern technology, with prisons and prisoners accessing electronic devices.

These websites and organizations visit jails and create inmate pen pal accounts where they can post information about the inmate, such as their;

— Full/legal/preferred names
— Gender
— Area/place of birth or residence
— Mugshots
— Charges
— Prison name and area of incarceration
— Sentencing period

On these profiles, the inmate can explain who they are and answer up to 20 questions explaining who they really are in detail. They can also include their hobbies, videos, music genre or type they like, their specialty, and, at times, explain what they wish to do with their lives after they get out of jail, such as their ambitions, goals, and standards.

The websites then create an email for the inmate if they do not have one and include the details of how the outside pen pal can contact them. In the contact section, the inmate must again include their name, prisoner ID, location, and address.

These websites then publish the inmate's information after verification from the prison administration and even the State's Department of Correction.

How to Search for a Prison Pen Pal

Although the convicts may post pen pal advertising on these websites, they need access to the internet, or it is limited. As a result, correspondence between pen pals and prisoners continues to be done through postal mail. However, the inmates who can access the internet may do so over the internet.

As such is the case, you, as the pen pal, can visit any of these websites providing access to inmate pen pals and search the database by: