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Getting Started
CORRESPONDING WITH SOMEONE IN PRISON
Guidelines
Why it's Important to Follow the Rules
What to Write
Gift Giving
Phone Privileges and E-mail
Donation & Costs
Guidelines
The women profiled on this site are incarcerated and so many of their basic rights have been restricted. Each state, as well as each facility, has it's own policies, rules, and regulations regarding inmate privileges. Once you begin your correspondence, ask the women you're writing to for the specific rules that apply at her institution. Each prison has its own rules that you must follow. So, for example, make sure that:
- Your full name is included with your letter.
- Each letter is signed with your complete signature.
- Do not enclose anything other than your letter (and possibly your photo)
- Do not enclose Loose stamps.
- Do not enclose self- addressed envelopes.
- Do not send gifts!
Your letter will be returned if you do not follow the rules of the institution!
**Important: Do NOT include the WDT code number as part of your pen-pals address or it will be returned.
**Remember: Prison staff reads all outgoing and incoming mail.
Note: International customers should note that most of the women will not be able to afford postage. Some facilities will not allow stamps to be sent nor do they provide Air Mail Stamps. In you first letter we suggest that you ask if she needs help with postage and if she can receive Air Mail stamps. If you decide to help by sending money do not send more than $5.00-$10.00 US.
Why it's Important to Follow the Rules
Whatever you send – thoughts, feelings, dreams, even photos – is greatly appreciated by the women who receive them. What they DON’T appreciate is being put on the “call-out sheet” and going through the hassle of “called out” during their lunch hour and having to stand in line to return the “against-the-rules” gift you sent.
When women have to take care of returning gifts, they are likely to miss a meal. And while prison food is hardly anyone’s idea of gourmet cuisine, it is an important part of each woman’s day…one that any woman would hate to miss, especially just because YOU din’t follow the rules of gift-giving.
Imagine how stressful and depressing it is for women to be forced to return gifts they receive. And “contraband” gifts must be accounted for. If they do not report to the Mail Line and bring a stamped envelope to return the “illegal” gift to you, they can receive a "DR" (Disciplinary Report), which can cause loss of “Gain Time,” a credit for days that will be taken off of their sentences.
The Staff can jerk the Gain Time out from under the ladies for any reason they feel necessary. Always ask about rules and regulations so that you don’t cause a problem for the woman you’re writing to.
What to Write
Your letter should include all the things you think a future friend might want to know about you:
A general description of yourself - age, height, weight, hair color, eye color and any other details that would help someone get a picture of you in their mind
Mention your occupation or the kind of work you do.
The women are always interested in your family and your special interests or hobbies.
If you decide to enclose a photograph, remember that most prisons won't allow Polaroid's, so make sure you know the rules before you send anything.
It’s always a good idea to pose with a pet if you have one. And include your children in your photo, especially if they are living with you.
Feel free to ask general questions of each woman you correspond with, but try not to ask about their incarceration right away. This is probably a sensitive subject and a bit too personal to talk about initially. After all you’re a stranger, too. If you start to get serious about someone, police reports and court records are public information and conducting your own “background check” may be advisable.
Gift Giving
You should know that some gifts you send to the ladies may hurt them more than they help them! Why? Because the DOC will not allow the women to receive any gifts, other than:
- Cards
- Letters
- Books *
- Postal Money Orders
- Pictures (No Polaroid's)
Always be leery if someone asks you for money!
NEVER give out your credit card numbers.
* Many facilities allow inmates to receive books. However, all books must come directly from either the publisher or a respectable distributor. Amazon.com offers the best service to correctional facilities. Please consider them when you want to give the gift of reading.
These women need your kindness, respect, and friendship more than your worldly possessions. Send them a gift of support and understanding. Show that you really care. This is the real secret to their hearts
Phone Privileges and E-mail
These women are not permitted to send or receive e-mails; they cannot receive telephone calls. They may call out, but calls are limited to 10 to 15 minutes.
Additionally, ALL calls are collect and they are very expensive!
The State Departments of Corrections have reserved the right to price-gouge and profiteer off of the families and friends who accept collect calls from inmates.
We at WDT ask that everyone who accepts collect calls from inmates forward their letters of complaint to the appropriate DOC, as well as to State Public Utilities Commissions, the Federal Communications Commission, and most of all to State Legislators.
You can find their addresses in the Government Section of your local telephone book and on the Internet.
Donation & Costs
Postal addresses of these women are available either for free or for a nominal fee. You must be at least 18 years old to correspond with an inmate. Please read our Disclaimer.
All monies collected at WDT are used to fund the operating expenses for this site and the services it provides to the women.
After you select the women with whom you would like to correspond and mail us your request, contact addresses they will be provided to you by e-mail, regular mail, fax or Express Mail. International customers will be served promptly as well.
The addresses of women profiled without photos and women with life sentences are always free.
1
address = $5.00
3
addresses = $10.00
7
addresses = $ 20.00
11 addresses =
$30.00
16 addresses = $
40.00
16 or more addresses = $40.00 plus $2.50 per each address
thereafter. Discount fees adjusted automatically.
Delivery via e-mail = FREE!
Regular Mail = FREE!
Air Mail International = FREE!
No personal checks!
We accept cash, paypal, credit cards and money orders only! International Money Orders Also Accepted.
Please make Money Orders payable to: Kurland Designs, PO Box 2667 Menlo Park, CA. 94026
International Customers:
Please note, most of the women profiled herein have little or no money whatsoever and are unable to afford postage. Air mail overseas is even more unaffordable. Many facilities don't and/or won't provide Air Mail stamps, some facilities will not allow inmates to receive stamps, only money. We suggest that in your first letter ask if "she" needs help with Air Mail postage and if she can receive stamps. Only money orders are acceptable, but don't send more than $5.00 US initially.
Life can be risky, but you can shop with confidence at Women Doing Time because we utilize state-of-the-art SSL encryption technology (i.e. "the LOCK") WDT is a VeriSign customer.
WDT also makes you this guarantee.
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