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Bridging the Gap (BTG) offers advice and
help to people wishing to write to
prisoners on Death Row in the USA. BTG currently oversees
750 penpals.
Click here to read the experiences of some BTG penpals who write to prisoners on Death Row. Do please read the information below carefully. Take time to consider if writing to an Death Row inmate is really what you wish to do. Here are some useful guidelines and FAQ's. If you decide you do want to write to a Death Row inmate, you have two options: - 1. To print an Application Form - click here. Send your Form enclosing at least one 1st class stamp as well as the one on the envelope to: Bridging the Gap, Vestry Hall, London Road, Mitcham, CR4 3UD.
If you have not already got Adobe Acrobat Reader, you will need to
download it FREE - just
click
here. |
 Click the headings below to get to the paragraphs you wish to read Are there any restrictions on who can be a penpal? | Why write? | How soon will I get a pen pal? | What is BTG's role? | Special considerations | What should I write? | Potential problems | Letter practicalities | Sending money | Sending gifts | Being conned | Executions Are there any restrictions on who can be a penpal?
BTG will seek more information where needed to determine the suitability
of Death Row prisoners and people applying
to be their penpals. BTG reserves the right to terminate an association with
any penpal or Death Row prisoner about whom the company has any concerns. Penpals
must be over 18 as, in our experience, persons
under the age of eighteen years are too vulnerable. Why write to a prisoner on Death Row? There are around 3,500 men and 65 women on Death Row; a small portion of the more than 2 million in US prisons. The average period before execution is seven years; many prisoners have been on Death Row for ten or more years. Invariably, prisoners are from poor backgrounds, have suffered abuse in childhood and have received bad legal representation. A considerable proportion are mentally retarded and a number were juveniles at the time of the crime. The conditions they are held in are harsh and dehumanizing. Many have been abandoned by family and friends and have very little or no contact with the outside world. Consequently, letters can be a very real and extremely valuable lifeline to them. BTG stresses that writing to prisoners on Death Row can be deeply rewarding but also full of pitfalls. The decision to apply to be a penpal to a Death Row prisoner should not be taken lightly, because, to back out can be devastating for the prisoner. Once accepted as a penpal, please tell BTG if you decide not to continue; disappointing a Death Row prisoner can then be avoided by BTG continuing the communication and allocating a different penpal. It is unacceptable to discover months after a penpal has ceased contact that a Death Row prisoner has suffered.
Your letter writing can potentially change someone's life and
it will almost certainly change yours too. It is often an amazingly deep experience
and means an enormous amount to both penpal and prisoner. It can be uplifting,
fun, exhilarating and deeply rewarding, however, like any relationship, it
usually brings along some challenges too.
BTG relies upon volunteers to manage its penpal scheme. What is the role of Bridging the Gap? BTG favours a 'hands off' approach allowing penpals and prisoners to form their own style of relationships. BTG acts as advisor and does not wish to interfere. BTG is not a political group and does not actively campaign for Death Row prisoners, although we do aim to give some support if an execution is imminent. BTG has opened an interactive forum for everyone interested in helping prisoners. Some penpals find value in contacting other penpals to share the difficulties and rewards associated with being a penpal.
To join, simply log on to the forum at
http://forum.btguk.org/ and register. The forum is moderated by
volunteers and any postings will be approved or disapproved as quickly
as possible. Death Row prisoners are alone in a cell 23 hours out of every day. Often the highlight of their day is when they receive mail, a brief reprieve bringing a piece of the outside world into an otherwise lonely and isolated existence. A few words, a postcard, and the fact that you took a moment to write can mean a great deal - you really can make a difference. Writing to a Death Row prisoner is an important undertaking - your friendship is important to prisoners, they can begin to count on your letters and it is emotionally upsetting for them to be forgotten after just a few letters. It is a commitment not to be taken lightly. By not prejudging, you may be surprised and find a good friend.
If you
write, please remember that prisoners on Death Row have to purchase their
own stamps, writing paper and even toiletries... send a few US stamps
along with your letter if you can, (most prisons allow this, check with
the prisoner first to make sure). If you are able to afford it, prisoners would
appreciate a few dollars, but it is your friendship
that is most valuable to them. Some people write a longish letter explaining all about themselves, while others have found that a good way to start is to write a postcard - preferably a bright one that can go on the wall - with a brief introduction and asking if they would like to write. You might mention how you became interested in writing. It is usually best not to ask the prisoner for details of his or her crime. That is best left to the prisoner to decide. Legally, too, it can be unwise for them to put things on paper. It is, however, perfectly in order to ask how long they have been on Death Row and about their background, and whether they have proper legal support. You would normally find you are writing to someone who has asked for a penpal, but it sometimes happens that once a prisoner who had requested a penpal loses interest or doesn't reply for some reason. Be prepared for anything ranging from an enthusiastic reply to silence.
If you think the prisoner you are writing to does not want to continue
receiving your letters, you could suggest that they pass them to another
prisoner who would like a penpal. Some people hesitate to write about good things in
their lives - people they love, holidays, or even just a beautiful walk
or sunset - as they don't want to hurt the person who they know is deprived of
such things. In our experience,
prisoners like to be told about such things and penpals become their ears and
eyes; what we do brings colour and normality to their lives. It will
also make you seem more real. Above all, they want to know that someone
cares. Potential problems to be aware of. 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 cause challenging situations to arise, e.g. where a male prisoner falls in love with a female penpal, or a relationship becomes elevated into something more special. If this happens, it is best to talk to someone who has had a similar encounter; ask BTG to be in touch. Problems can arise if men are overly stressed, either by being on Death Row or because they are not coping with any mental health issues they may have. 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 and weekly letters are quite common. If you know in advance that you will be unable to write very frequently, it is 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 or month and it avoids letters crossing in the post.
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 circumstance to write from, but in some cases those who seem unwilling or
even are unable
to reply are the neediest of all. Your perseverance is, therefore, likely
to be tested to the limit at some point. Letters can take at least two weeks to reach prisoners. They are first opened by the prison authorities who remove any undesirable enclosures, such as drugs etc. Enclosures that the prison allows are noted before being passed to the prisoner but the letters themselves are not necessarily read. Even so, great care should be taken when discussing legal matters to avoid saying anything that might be held against the prisoner. The prisoner's letters to you go out unopened, but the prison officer may not always post them promptly, so a surprisingly long time can pass before they reach the penpal. Sometimes prisoners run out of money - most are extremely poor - and they cannot afford stamps.
If your address is in the UK, there is no need to give your home address
detail to a Death Row inmate. BTG offers use of its safe address:
Bridging the Gap, Vestry Hall, London Road, Mitcham, CR4 3UD. Our phone number is 020
8090 1486. Or click on the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of the page to
send us an email. Letters for you that are received by BTG are sent on to the address
that
you give us. Our budget is limited we can only forward mail to UK
addresses therefore the inmate can be any where in the world, but the
recipients can only use the safe address if they live within the UK. All address lists are kept confidential. The
regulations on sending in stamps differ from state to state: you will
need to contact us for this information.
As most prisoners are poor, you may well want to send them money. The
regulations differ from state to state. If you do decide to send in money,
it is best to either check with the Bridging the Gap office or write to
the Governor of the prison where your prisoner is. The cheapest way of
doing so is an American Express money order, but check that your state
accepts them. If you do send money make sure you mention this in the
letter in which you are enclosing it. The
regulations on books, magazines and parcels vary from state to state.
Again, it is best to check with the person you are writing to and ask what they are allowed
to receive and how it should be sent. Alternatively, contact BTG to ask
about this. Being conned; a word of warning!
Some prisoners ask for a great deal of money. You may be asked to help
fund visits by relatives living a long way from the prison. In some cases
unrealistic sums of money are asked for, for example, to help with the
prisoner's legal defence. The prisoners are poor and their lot is wretched; money you send may be gambled away
and, even if you don't see that as
understandable, you can be sure that they will think
of you as much wealthier than you really are. It is perfectly in order to
set clear boundaries where money is concerned as this can save the relationship
from certain strain.
If the prisoner you are writing to has an execution date set, it can be
a traumatic experience, especially if you have grown close to them.
However, many execution dates are set but not kept. The International Division of Amnesty International
in London keeps excellent records on each prisoner, these can be
checked with them, but please do not trouble them unnecessarily. On the other
hand, penpals sometimes hear of execution dates before anyone else, so
if a date is set, it is certainly worth checking that the Amnesty International
Americas desk knows about it. Amnesty International will then put out
an urgent action notice if the date is a serious one. Please contact Bridging the Gap if you are in any doubt as to what
to do. Amnesty International has an excellent book entitled "United States
of America - The Death Penalty". It costs £5 (approx.) and may be obtained
from Amnesty International Publications, 1 Easton Street, London WC1X
8DJ.
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