[Blackcat99]

When I lived in Wyoming there were 2 nurses who were married to inmates with life sentences. One of the nurses was in the process of divorce because her husband was having "other female visitors." I also personally knew a social worker who had been working at a prison. She fell in love with one of the inmates and they got involved. She quit her job and they got married. When he got released their marriage only lasted a few weeks. He kept getting drunk and beating her up. I also heard about a defense lawyer who married an inmate. On the night of their honeymoon in one of those "trailers" she woke up to find out her husband had "escaped" from the trailer. The defense lawyer was so humiliated that she had to move across the country and start her life over again.

[AKAKatydid]

Hi there! Just wanted to step in and put in my

I grew up in a MAJOR prison town. Like many kids, I had pen pals. And of course, back in the day, there was no email; it was the gold old letter writing days.

Anyway, you would see in the back of TONS of magazines offerings for pen pals. Many magazines still do! It's suprising how many of these are actually prisoners! In their ads, they do not have to disclose that they are in a prison... the mail for inmates goes to a local PO Box number, just like any other everyday citizen. We knew them because the prison had a distinct PO Box #.

Unless you know the area, and know the prisons it would be very easy for an everyday person to send mail to a prisoner without even knowing they are in prison.

My point is this, the consensus is that nobody wants to be pen-pals with someone in prison... so please be careful of who you are writing to, because you never know. Just because you don't address your mail to "Cell Block 5" doesn't mean that it's not going there!!

~*~kendra~*~

[BabyRN2Be]

Originally Posted by AKAKatydid

Unless you know the area, and know the prisons it would be very easy for an everyday person to send mail to a prisoner without even knowing they are in prison.

My point is this, the consensus is that nobody wants to be pen-pals with someone in prison... so please be careful of who you are writing to, because you never know. Just because you don't address your mail to "Cell Block 5" doesn't mean that it's not going there!!

~*~kendra~*~

Great advice, Kendra!!

This thread reminds me of my early college years when I was 18-19 years old. There was this group on campus who encouraged the girls to get involved with this ministry - and this wasn't a same-sex pen-pal deal either (which I know is probably not that safe)! What were the university higher-ups thinking that they would condone a campus group who encourages university girls to become pen-pals without any safeguards in place??

I didn't want to do it then, and I wouldn't want to do it now!!! I waited many years being single, and I wouldn't subject myself to that even during my loneliest years!

[DawnfromKC]

Originally Posted by Blackcat99

Thanks all for your messages. No I am not planning to marry a prison pen pal. However, I was thinking if I ever married a "famous" murderer I could get some attention. It's a crazy world. If I work hard to care for the elderly no one wants to take my photo. However, if I would marry some "murderer" then people would want my photo and I could probably write a book.

Honey, you're kidding, right??????
There is more in life (especially the job that you have) to explore than to have your picture taken with a MONSTER!!!!!! Write a book about caring for the elderly......Great experiences and memories I can only imagine.....Once again I hope that you are truly JOKING!!!

[bluecandi]

Well, considering I am already married to a great guy, NO WAY!!!



However, my hubby's brother is incarcerated. I write him pretty often.

[Blackcat99]

Originally Posted by DawnfromKC

Honey, you're kidding, right??????
There is more in life (especially the job that you have) to explore than to have your picture taken with a MONSTER!!!!!! Write a book about caring for the elderly......Great experiences and memories I can only imagine.....Once again I hope that you are truly JOKING!!!

No I would never marry an inmate. I was just thinking that these women who marry "famous murderers" perhaps enjoy getting the attention of the media and do get paid good money for an "in-depth personal story."

[toddy36]

I have a prison pen pal and I do plan on marrying him. I met him in a half way house. Bad things happen to good people.

[Blackcat99]

Originally Posted by toddy36

I have a prison pen pal and I do plan on marrying him. I met him in a half way house. Bad things happen to good people.

Yikes!!! Are you sure he is one of the good guys?
Please be careful and I wish you the best of luck.

[LoriAlabamaRN]

Originally Posted by toddy36

I have a prison pen pal and I do plan on marrying him. I met him in a half way house. Bad things happen to good people.

I hope you have thought this through... seems to me like you could be one of those "good people" that a bad thing is about to happen to.

[Angie O'Plasty, RN]

I have a friend....

She's not just writing to several guys in prison, she's sending their families Christmas money and gifts. I have no doubt she sends them money on a pretty regular basis too.

I tried to tell her that no, she's not safe because she gives her address as the next block down from her, anyone with Internet privileges can find her exact address and phone number, and I showed her all that in the Internet phone book.

She became angry with me for scaring her.

*sigh* Some people will just never get it, so what can I do but pray for her safety?