[Seren21]

I wouldn't, but I know of someone - she married a convicted child molester. Gross!

[BabyRN2Be]

Originally Posted by BigB

Has the quality of men outside of prison (i.e. never arrested) dropped so low that nurses are now considering marrying inmates? Why have them as a pen pal in the first place?

Maybe it's for a thrill in writing to either a celebrity, or the adrenaline and excitement of knowing one is in correspondence with someone who has killed before. From what I understand, Scott Peterson receives many pieces of so called fan mail a day, including women who want to marry him. I think it's an excitement factor, or some psych condition that comes being famous for dating/marrying a convicted killer/felon.

[BigB]

Originally Posted by BabyRN2Be

Maybe it's for a thrill in writing to either a celebrity, or the adrenaline and excitement of knowing one is in correspondence with someone who has killed before. From what I understand, Scott Peterson receives many pieces of so called fan mail a day, including women who want to marry him. I think it's an excitement factor, or some psych condition that comes being famous for dating/marrying a convicted killer/felon.

I think it's called insanity myself. I "killed" terrorists (Taliban) in the War in Afganistan after 9/11 but I know for a fact my wife didn't drool or obsess over that fact, as it was part of my job in the military. For a woman to consider marrying violent murders and RAPISTS inmates comes off extremly desperate for a man.

[Felixa]

A lot of people posting here seem to take the view that once a criminal, always a criminal.
Some people are career criminals, others fall into crime again because it seems so much easier, but others again actually make a go of going straight.
Most people in prison today are there for drug-related crimes (so I'm told) - either drug crimes, or getting money for the habit, or violence fuelled by drugs. And a great predictor of whether you can kick drug habits/alcoholism/ get back on your feet after prison or even rebuild your life after a mental breakdown, is a strong support network.

So I think there are benefits to writing to guys in prison. However I do think (along with others on the thread) that lots of people do it for the wrong reasons - they glamourise the crimes or they think they can save the person rather than just giving them contact with someone unrelated to their prison life and accepting everything they say with a grain of salt.

I'm married already, but even if I wasn't, I would have great difficulty having a relationship with someone who has been in jail. But then that's my preferences and my prejudices. I know some people who have families that have always been on the wrong side of the law, and dating or marrying an ex-prisoner would not be a big deal. There are some incredibly forgiving people out there - okay some are doormats, but others are very strong and willing to forgive what others would think of as unforgiveable.

After all that starry-eyed idealisn, as a practical safeguard I would think it sensible to wait till someone was out of prison and see what sort of life they made before deciding whether to marry them or not - maybe a year or more. It's hard to know what someone will be like in a different environment.