To write to a death row inmate?

[FanfeckintasticFitbit]

This is something that's crossed my mind a bit in the past. I'm really interested in the lives of others and love books and documentaries about life behind bars.

I have a really happy and fulfilled life with DC and DP so it's not out of loneliness, I love to write but it's been years since I've written actual letters as everybody is online now.

Has anyone else ever written to someone in prison?

I've "chosen" a prisoner (because there are certain criminals I could absolutely not communicate with, child abusers etc) and have written a letter but I'd first like to get some experiences from anyone who has done similar?

Having known the pain of having a loved one spend many years in a secure hospital, and seeing the effect on my family, I don't have much time for people who want to make contact out of curiosity. This is real life for some of us. Would you write to a stranger who had lost their child, out of curiosity? Prison is all about loss. This is going to sound harsh, but my advice to you is to grow up.

Good god. Get a life.

My sister spent three months working with inmates on death row in New Orleans. I would say do it. She said for some of them it was the only link with the outside world. There is so much that could be said about prisoners on DR and the the whole system. She said that seeing their joy when they received a letter was quite something.

Rather than writing, you could become an official prison visitor

www.naopv.com

You would then be taking forward the work founded by Elizabeth Fry (she of the £5 note).

She said that seeing their joy when they received a letter was quite something.

Bless their (child abusing, murdering) little socks

This is going to sound harsh, but my advice to you is to grow up
Good god. Get a life
It's just not what a sensible person would do

Please ignore these comments. My sister is a very successful lawyer in London who writes to two DR inmates. To describe her as the above posters describe those who write to DR inmates is very disappointing.

Uncertain
Perhaps go and educate about DR prisoners and the capital punishment system yourself before posting such generalised, infantile shit

www.postpals.co.uk

You can write to terminally ill children and their siblings.

Seems like a much better use of your time to me.

eww, so they can wank into a sock while they read a letter from a fan?

make sure you use a po box in case they get pardoned.

Elderly people are wonderful to talk to - some have lead fascinating lives. I work with them and I'm never bored of hearing what they've done. Maybe try that route? My hospital takes on volunteer visitors so perhaps that's something you could do? Or find a school that you have a link to in some way - your old primary?

If you want to then I don't see why not.

It's not to everyone's taste but so what?

Some of the stories of the people on DR are very very sad. I don't see why they don't deserve a bit of comfort too.

Six weeks ago to the other poster, I said it was a bad idea.
For varieties sake, I will say it's a crap idea.

People who do this normally lack excitement in their own lives and think this will bring it. Women choose death row prisoners as thy csn have a relationship that is always at the getting to know you exciting stage, it will never become whose turn is it to put th bins out as they will never be released.
Don't do it. Choose to wrote to lonely old people etc instead. Or visit them. Leave death row inmates pit of the equation.

I never understand why people aren't just honest about why they do this.

Out of everyone you could write to, you pick someone whose behaviour was bad enough to land them on death row and then try to make out like it's not because of some morbid fascination.

Just be honest. With yourself if no one else.

You want to just do something good? There are literally millions in the world more deserving of your time and interest.

I have just been off to read the last thread. There were some really interesting posts on it, from those for and against.

It's not something I would do, though I understand why someone would.

However, I do think we should be able to discuss it, rather then just throw insults around.

Please ignore these comments. My sister is a very successful lawyer in London who writes to two DR inmates. To describe her as the above posters describe those who write to DR inmates is very disappointing.

Obviously educated beyond her intelligence then. but she's a lawyer

I don't see that what uncertain posted is 'shit'. The death penalty isn't handed out for shoplifting. The majority of men on death row will be there for murder, child rape or similar offences.

This is my assumption too. The vast majority of death row inmates have committed a heinous crime in order to be there and were found not to be criminally insane (a minority will presumably have been wrongfully convicted or could be argued to have extenuating circumstances, perhaps). Am I wrong to think this? This is a genuine question. If so, can someone explain the types of crimes that would carry a death sentence (although I understand that a definitive 'list' isn't feasible due to variation by state)?

Blimey innocent, thank you for that link. Obviously, I didn't imagine people on Death Row to be, as you say, "lovely misunderstood men" but reading that list there's not one who jumps out as someone I'd like to strike up an acquaintance with .

I think that wanting to do this is a sign that something is amiss.

uncertain I write as someone who spent all of their secondary school years visiting a loved one in prison. I didn't see many people, lawyers or otherwise, reaching out to him to be his friend before he went in. I wonder if the OP would like to write to people who have committed offences and not been caught? I stand by my previous reply which was considered and based on genuine experience.

Thanks for the link, Innocent ~ I'm a huge Tom Waits fan too