Here are some answers to questions asked by potential Pen Pals.

Q: What kind of volunteers are you looking for?

A: People who are prepared to be committed to write to people in prison.

Q: What kind of things would I write about?

A: Just be a friend. Talk about your interests, profession, family, or hobbies. Encourage them to talk about themselves. Prisoners have dreams and interests that often go unheard.

Q: How often should I write?

A: That is decided between you and your pen pal. Some prisoners will write quite often and some less frequently. Usually you reply to a letter from your penpal and they reply to yours, in a kind of ping pong way.

Q: Is there an age requirement to volunteer?

A: YES. In the light of our experience, we know that persons under the age of eighteen can find themselves in a very vulnerable position. It is fair to neither pen friend nor prisoner. Letter writers must therefore be at least eighteen years old. In any case USA prison rules state that you must be eighteen years of age to correspond with prisoners.

Q: Can I participate in The Pen Pal Scheme if I live outside the United Kingdom?

A: Yes, because we have a large number of people on Death Row USA, and some in other countries who want penpals.

Q: Will I know the crime the prisoner committed?

A: No. We suggest that you not ask a person this question. Leave it up to the prisoner to tell you when he or she feels comfortable enough.

Q: Once a pen pal match is made, what information does The Pen Pal Scheme give the prisoner about the volunteer?

A: No information about the volunteer pen pal is ever given to the prisoner.

Q: Do I have to give my home address?

A: NO! We highly recommend that you use a post office box or church mailing address. You can use our P.O. Box as well, as many of our writers do.

Q: How does BTG support its Pen Pal Scheme volunteers?

A: Volunteers can call the Pen Pal Scheme office on 0870 027 3091 during 18.00 and 19.00 most evenings, write, or send an e-mail to penpals@btguk.org with questions. BTG staff can assist you with any problems that may come up during the correspondence.

Q: What rules should volunteers and prisoners follow?

A: Volunteers receive written guidelines on do's and don'ts. These are to help ensure that pen-pal partners have realistic expectations of the relationship. Inmates know the rules for the prison about what they can and can't do.

Q: Is The Pen Pal Scheme open to all ?

A: Yes.

Q: How many prisoners may I write to?

A: We ask that you begin with no more than five pen pals. If you can then handle more, we will be happy to match you with additional pen pals. The joy of having a pen pal (for you and the prisoner) is having the opportunity to feel a personal connection with someone.

Q: How do I become a volunteer?

A: It's easy. Just complete our online application on the Penpal page. Once we have approved your application, we will be able to match you with a pen pal as soon as possible.

Q: Should I use a pseudonym when writing to a prisoner?

A: That depends on what makes you feel comfortable. Using a pseudonym does help to minimize whatever risk is involved in corresponding with a prisoner, but if you are comfortable with using your real name, that is fine. We want this experience to be as positive as possible for both the volunteer and the prisoner.

Q: Can I choose to correspond with a female inmate?

A: Yes, all female volunteers can choose to correspond with a female prisoner. However, there is a very long waiting period due to the fact that only a very few female inmates request pen pals. This shortage of female prisoners is due to the fact that only a small percentage of the prison population is female, and many of them have shorter sentences than male prisoners, which reduces their need for pen pals.

Q: My prisoner pen pal has written to ask for money. Should I send him a little money?

A: This is a question we receive from time to time, as prisoners often make this request. The basic necessities are provided for prisoners. And in our guidelines, we strongly recommend that gifts of money not be a part of the pen-pal relationship. The purpose of being a pen pal to a prisoner is to provide a friend with whom to exchange letters and words of encouragement. A good response is: "That is against BTG guidelines."

Q: I wrote my first letter to my prisoner pen pal, but it was returned. Why didn't it make it?

A: After careful deliberation, you finally write your first letter to a prisoner. You pop it in the post wondering what your prisoner friend will be like. A week later the letter comes back with some unintelligible message stamped on the front. When mail is returned stamped "paroled," the person is no longer incarcerated. Let The Pen Pal Scheme office know, and we'll match you with another pen pal. If any other message is written or stamped across the front, send the letter one more time in another envelope. Sometimes the initial message is inaccurate. If it is returned to you again, let The Pen Pal Scheme office know, and we will offer you another pen pal. Many prisoners wait up to six months for a pen pal; sometimes they're moved to another prison while they're waiting.

Q: I've been corresponding with my prisoner pen pal for several months, and my last letter was returned to me. What should I do?

A: First, try resending the letter. There may have been a mix-up at the prison. If that letter is also returned, you can call the facility to see if your pen pal has been moved. Unless the prisoner contacts BTG, we won't know his or her location. Regretfully, prisons do not typically forward mail.

Q: My pen pal has told me that he is soon to be released and needs help in getting re-established. What can I do?

A: You can have the prisoner write to us requesting help and advice. BTG Office may be able to help the prisoner make contact with various agencies who might be able to help. We produce a resource CD, which has a vast amount of useful information.

Q: How can I get matched with another pen pal?

A: You do NOT need to register or reapply to receive another pen pal. You can write to us via postal mail, call by telephone, or email us penpals@btguk.org. It's just that simple! BUT make sure you leave your full name and mailing address. This enables us to locate you in our database and serve you more efficiently.

Q: What type of items can I send in the mail to my pen pal?

A: There are no uniform standards for what is acceptable to send to your pen pal, as every prison has its own guidelines. The best thing to do is ask the prisoner what is allowed or call the prison and ask the mailroom if you can send a particular item. Most prisons do not allow hardcover books, cassette tapes, etc to be sent.