VADP

VADP

Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

PO Box 4804 ! Charlottesville, VA 22905

434- 960-7779 ! 888- 567-VADP ! 434-984-2803 [Fax]

The VADP – Pen-Pal Project

Here you will find some tips about pen friendships with death row inmates. Please read this advice. If you still have questions afterwards, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Is this right for me?

Before writing a letter to someone on death row, think carefully about it. Why? Pen pals mean a lot to the prisoners, they look for a long lasting friendship. They don’t look for someone who will write one or two letters and then disappear. You must take some responsibility when writing to someone on death row.

Many prisoners have very little if any support. Their families and friends often desert them. Society shuns them. It is, therefore, possible to get into a close relationship with a prisoner amazingly quickly. This can create problems, especially for women; male prisoners often fall in love with female pen pals, or try to elevate the relationship into something very special.

Problems also arise because many of the men are disturbed, either because of the stresses of Death Row, or because they were disturbed in the first place. Many have been on drugs and suffered violence and abuse as children. The correspondence can easily become very demanding. The prisoners are needy. Some write every day! Once a week is quite common. If you know in advance that you will be unable to write very frequently, it can be a good idea to make this clear at the outset. That way, disappointment can be avoided. You can, for example, suggest that you write only in reply to each other's letters. This ping-pong arrangement means you will be writing at most once a fortnight/month.

Some prisoners fail to reply to the first letter. It is also not uncommon for a prisoner to stop writing, or for there to be long gaps. It is very difficult writing to a vacuum, but in some cases those unwilling or unable to reply are the neediest of all. Your perseverance is therefore likely to be tested to the limit at some point.

Although writing to someone on the row shouldn’t be taken lightly, you should also remember that it is a very rewarding experience. If you have any problems or concerns once you begin writing, remember that VADP will be happy to listen to your concerns and help as best we can.

How do I start writing?

Begin by looking over the bio-information that we have on the men and women on Virginia’s death row who are looking for pen-pals. Don’t be hurt if your initial letter is not responded to immediately. Sometimes it takes a little while for prisoners to be comfortable writing. (Remember that the prison mail system can also be exceedingly slow.)

Occasionally, prisoners will not respond. Life on Virginia’s death row is difficult, and prisoners often go through periods of depression. If a prisoner does not respond after three letters, you may want to consider another pen- pal. Their decision not to write is not a reflection on you or your letters; it is often a warning sign that a prisoner is going through a difficult time.

We ask that you inform VADP if you write a Virginia death row inmate and do not receive a response. We pass this information on to the individual’s lawyers, so they can check on how their client is doing. We also ask that you let VADP know if you become pen-pals with

someone on Virginia’s death row. This allows us to monitor which individuals are writing and who needs a pen-pal. It also allows us to keep you informed on aspects of your pen-pals case.

There is a good chance that the person you become friends with will be executed. VADP will work to make sure that you are informed if an execution date is set for your pen-pal and provide some support in this difficult time.

The Logistics of Writing

The Virginia Department of Corrections has an enormous amount of rules and regulations about what can and can not be sent into the prisons. It usually take 1 -2 weeks for mail to reach prisoners. All letters must be opened by a corrections officer.

Below is a brief list of rules to remember:

1. All letters must be correctly addressed with the prisoner’s Name and Number.

2. All letters must have a return address. This includes the senders complete name.

3. Letters can not weigh over 1 oz. If you have more pages, you must break the letter up into several envelopes.

4. You can send regular photos. However, you may not send Polaroid photos.

5. Do not tape anything to your letters. (Apparently some people occasionally have tried to smuggle drugs into prison by taping them under pictures from newspapers, etc...)

6. Do not try and send care packages. The mail room will just throw them out. You also can not send stamps, blank paper, or envelopes.

7. The only way to send a ‘gift’ to your pen-pal is to send them a money-order – no cash or personal checks. (The money order must be filled out completely with your pen-pals information and your full name and address.) You can get money orders at 7-11 stores or the post office. If you go to get one, remember that you must pay for a money order in cash.

A Haiku for the Virginia Department of Corrections

My paper bird is

Returned to me again. Note:

Mail Code Violation 7

What do I write about?

When you decide to write to a death row prisoner, begin slowly. Don’t ask very private questions in your first letters and don’t ask questions about the case. A closer relationship based on trust has to be built first. Talk about yourself and about your hobbies in the beginning. You can ask the prisoner how he/she feels at the moment and about his/her daily life. Give him/her the feeling that you are willing to speak about everything with him/her. This is important for good communication.

Occasionally prisoners will want to tell you about the crime. Although it is fine to talk about their feelings surrounding it, their concerns, etc..., we discourage pen-pals from going over the logistics of the crime in letters or phone conversations. Your letters and calls are not private, and anything said or written could be used in a court of law.

Many prisoners claim to be innocent in their letters. There are innocent people on death row, there’s no question about it. But there are also many people who are guilty of the crimes they were sentenced for. Innocence or guilt does not change the fact that the death penalty is wrong. The death penalty means, in each and every case, arbitrariness and injustice.

There are many reasons that a prisoner may falsely claim that he/she is innocent, but it would be unfair to condemn them for this lie. Many are ashamed of their crime and they believe they would never find a pen friend if they were to tell the truth from the beginning. Others cannot remember their crime because of drugs/alcohol. These are only a few examples.

If your pen-pal brings up the question of guilt and innocence, remind them that you are not a lawyer. Encourage them to discuss their case with their lawyer. Feel free to contact VADP, if this occurs with your pen-pal. We will be happy to send you or your pen-pal information on contacting lawyers and groups that review cases with legitimate claims of innocence.

A few words about money:
Many prisoners ask for money. You should know that most people on death row have no income. They have to buy hygiene articles as well as paper, envelopes and stamps to write.

As far as I’m concerned, it’s understandable that a prisoner also wants a snack from time to time or that he/she would like to have a radio or a TV (if they are allowed). This is how they stay in touch with the free world. Don't forget that many prisoners spend 23 hours a day alone in their cell, so I can understand that they may ask for money.

But I also recommend being careful when sending money. A small amount now and then is ok, if you can afford it. If not, don't hesitate and tell the inmate.

If you have the feeling the prisoner is only interested in your money and you feel misused, please contact VADP.