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Jo's experience.

I became involved in the fight against the death penalty about a year ago when I replied to an advertisement asking for people to become a friend to someone on Death Row. I was given the details of a friend, and we began our friendship. Since then he is now waiting for a retrial in Alabama. I now write to Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky too. I was until recently a pen friend co-ordinator for Kentucky, but I have had to relinquish it as I wanted to get more involved. I maintain my contact with Kentucky and will continue to do so as I have made some wonderful friends there.

By helping Bridging The Gap I feel I am helping people and I wouldn't change that feeling for the world!

Ray's experience.

I started writing to Dave only a few months ago, he is a prisoner on Death Row in San Quentin prison, and has been there for a lot of years...since 1979 in fact!! I was only 3 years old when he was convicted.

At first, when I was given Dave's address, I was very nervous and wasn't sure what to write to him, perhaps telling him about my life, my family would be upsetting? Or maybe I would say the wrong thing, and he'd be upset about that? So after a lot of thinking, I just decided to tell him more or less what you would expect to see on a CV. I sent the letter off, but didn't expect much of a reply, but, just a few weeks later, a letter arrived on my doorstep with an American postmark...it was from Dave. I didn't know what to expect at first, and his letter sat unopened on my fireplace for almost a week, I was worried that he'd say something that may be upsetting, or it may be a note telling me that he had no interest in speaking to someone on 'the outside'. He'd sent me a photograph of himself and told me about what life was like in prison, how long he'd been there, and what he'd done, the problems he'd faced in prison, and what he liked to read, I'd have really liked to have sent him a book or a gift, but unfortunately the sending of gifts is forbidden.

I feel that life for me has always been one long 'what if' - what if I'd done this, what if this had happened - surprisingly, although I originally meant to write to Dave to try and help brighten his life a little, he has done the same for me in return. I feel very fortunate to be in contact with a man like Dave, regardless of what he has done in the past - he accepts what he has done, and is ready to face his punishment - but amazingly, he still has a very positive outlook on life. Apart from where he is, you would probably think of Dave as any other bloke - when he gets chance, he watches the same TV programs as we do, when the opportunity presents itself, he reads the same books as I do, strangely, although we've never met, and probably never will meet face-to-face (visiting America is beyond my budget), I feel a strong link with Dave, and it feels like I've known him for years. I've never had a pen pal before; especially not one that was in prison, I feel that it is extremely rewarding to know that someone you have never met is looking out for you.

At Christmas, I sent Dave a card, we all signed it, and my partner, and even my daughter had a scribble! I was very surprised that at almost the same time I posted my card to Dave, I received one in the post from him. It was a wonderful gesture on his part, as I know that there is very little money to available to prisoners, and to spend some of the little cash he had was very moving.

There haven't been too many problems with my letters since I started writing to Dave, although I suspect he didn't get a letter I sent to him just after Christmas, whether it's got lost in the post, or it's just not made it through I don't know, but I am writing again, to see if another one gets through. It's a shame when your letter doesn't arrive, I imagine that Dave must be wondering what he's done to upset me, and I'm wondering perhaps if he did get my letter, have I done something to upset him? I doubt it though, Dave seems to have a brighter outlook on life than I do.

Liz's experience.

My name is Liz, I write to 3 Death Row inmates, 2 in California and one in Georgia. I was introduced to Bridging the Gap by James last year and have since learnt more about the sort of things that go on in the judicial system in some of the States of America, and how people can end up on Death Row for crimes they may not have committed. Whether they are innocent or not, I am against the death penalty so such people have my sympathy. I have always enjoyed writing and when I learned of these prisoners wanting penpals I saw no reason why I shouldn't write, and every reason that I should.

I have been writing for about 8 months now. It's not always easy to know what to say, especially at first, but naturally the more you write the more you get to know the person and the easier it gets. I write about what I've been doing, current affairs in the news, nature, likes and dislikes, and of course (being British) the weather! I don't think what you write about is as important as the fact that you do. The prisoner receives a letter and knows that someone out there is thinking of him. And thinking of them makes me thankful for everything I have, above all for the freedom to live my life as I choose.