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?

If you were to write out of compassion, then i'd say go for it. But out of curiousity? Bad idea

And thinking about, my loved one would never have written back to a stranger befriending him. He always had a good ability to see through people, and was basically too smart to do something like that (and he had a law degree! Imagine).

Sorry, mooth, please don't think I was having a go at you

I do agree that people should be able to discuss this without resorting to personal insults and name calling.

Some people just look at humanity differently to others, and it is possible for some to see someone as a human being as well as the wrongs that they have committed.

I do wonder though why people specifically choose death row as opposed to say, prisoners serving life sentences here in the UK, and I do think that there has to be an element of needing to satisfy one's curiosity as to what it's like to live on death row knowing that at some point you are going to be executed.......

I dislike all this fetishisation of very, very unpleasant people. Funny old Mumsnet; if someone's husband farts in bed it's 'LTB'. If some real nasty lowlife commits some horrific crime, well the poor love must be innnocent or misunderstood. Let's write to him!

There's one woman on that list. She kidnapped and killed a woman, stole her baby and pretended the baby was hers.

Anyway, prisoners on death row usually can't talk about their crimes. The letters are vetted. They are more likely to be trying to talk you into sending nudes then discussing their actions and how their heads work, anyway.

You'll notice that most of the people have murdered at least one person. The Boston bomber is there, infact. How have you chosen who to write too? Whose crime doesn't seem so bad, out of that list?

I am in the process of doing this, and I resent the implication that I am doing it for some kind of cheap thrill or to make my life more exciting. I am doing it because I can't imagine how horrific it would be to know that one day you are going to walk into a room and never come out again.

And yes, I know that the victims never came out of whatever room/situation they were murdered in, and if killing the prisoners would bring the victims back to life then I would totally support the death penalty, but it doesn't, and it doesn't act as a deterrent either.

And now I'm bowing out of this thread because I've already waffled on a bit on the other one started a few weeks ago.

My mistake - that comment was not to you uncertain it was in response to the poster whose sister is 'a very successful lawyer'.

Resent away. Previous responses were as a direct result of what the OP wrote.

This thread, and the comments made by people like myself are not about you.

I think it's fair enough to understand that someone with a normal, non abusive, happy childhood and loving family background doesn't usually go and commit the sorts of crimes these people have committed.

Plus there are a huge amount of mentally unwell people, and a disproportionate number of ethnic minorities on DR.

Well obviously some of them have done terrible crimes but let's not forget Texas murdered an adult with learning disabilities who had the mind/intelligence/understanding of a 12 year old.

If sending that kid a drawing and a chatty letter brightened his day you'd have done something worthwhile.

It's never black and white.

Yes Innocent, I'd say that was fairly obvious

I am doing it because I can't imagine how horrific it would be to know that one day you are going to walk into a room and never come out again.

So do you even care what they did?

I get all the 'it won't bring the victims back' bullshit, but why are these people worth your time and letters and not, say, sick and lonely elderly people or children or victims' families? Why DR prisoners?

I expect they get hundreds of letters. And build creepy letter based relationships with hundreds of women.

You can think DR prisoners are worth a letter WITHOUT thinking elderly or sick people can fuck off and die though...

It's not either/or.

I do wonder though why people specifically choose death row as opposed to say, prisoners serving life sentences here in the UK

I think maybe because people on death row will never get out, if you get in too deep you can just stop and there's not going to be repercussions.

If you write to somebody in the UK serving "life" they could be out stalking you within a few years.

Although I'm pretty sure i read about women writing to Ian Huntley...

Well I didn't say that it doesn't always go abusive childhood = DR inmate because I thought it was obvious.

It's interesting that women choose death row prisoners over murderers in UK prisons. Th death row adds a nice touch of extra drama for them.

I do know people who wrote and visited women in prison in the UK. Why not do that instead.