Write A Letter

(And Phone Calls!)

Here’s where to write:

Find out more about Kroegeor (aka Jackson), Donald, or Tim.

Before you write, check out letter writing and phone call guidelines here.

Do the Write Thing

Prisoners are … well, ummm, you know, in prison! Confined, cut off, probably lonely, and certainly isolated.  

Letters break the monotony of prison life, reminding imprisoned folks that they aren’t forgotten. Letters are an avenue to maintain outside relationships: essential for their emotional well-being and successful reintegration into society after they’re out. And don’t forget they are making a huge sacrifice for the rest of us, including you and your loved ones!

So do the write right thing! Even If you don’t personally know them, you should still write! 

Lots of peeps get hung up on what to write about. Many think writing about everyday stuff – a nice day or a movie, a conversation or a beautiful garden for example – will cause stress or depression for imprisoned folks, because they can’t participate in stuff like that while they’re inside. That’s so far from the truth! Every single person we’ve talked with who has experienced imprisonment for any length of time said go ahead – just write! 

It’s the act of reaching out itself that matters! 

Letter Writing Guidelines (and Phone Calls):

Letters

The Bureau of Prisons has broad rules about mail. Which means they have wide discretion about what constitutes objectionable mail. Sometimes a letter gets rejected for no good reason at all. But if you follow the 8 rules below, you should be fine. 

1. Don’t send sexual or violent content.
2. Make sure the envelope has your return address.
3. NO RETURN ADDRESS STICKERS or any other sticker.
4. The envelope must be white (not unbleached), and a standard size.
5. No postcards or greeting cards.
6. Use black ink only.
7. Don’t use stickers except for the stamp. So no return address stickers.
8. Don’t send photos or care packages.
9. Don’t send books unless you know your imprisoned friend wants a specific book – there is a limit to how many books each imprisoned person can have at any one time. 
10. No hardback books – only paperbacks.
11. ALL BOOKS MUST COME FROM A THIRD PARTY VENDOR THAT SELLS BOOKS.

Phone Calls

Imprisoned folks are allowed to make phone calls, but you cannot call them, they have to call you. They only get to make calls at hours specified by the jail or prison, and those hours vary.

Phone procedures depend on what institution our friends are imprisoned.

DC Jail

Inmates in DC Jail can call up to 20 phone numbers. Inmates need to tell their case managers which numbers to put on their list. After a number is added to the list, the imprisoned person can call those people. Phone calls are 15 minutes long.

Just like everything else in jail or prison, phone calls cost money. At DC Jail, an imprisoned person can either pay for a call out of their commissary funds, or you can put money on your phone so they can call you collect.

DC Jail uses a phone vendor called Connect GTL. You’ll need to create an account, then click on AdvancePay Phone. They’ll ask you to add a correctional facility. For DC Jail, add “Washington DC-CDF Jail”. After that you need to add the inmate you wish to receive calls from. The easiest way to add an inmate is to use the imprisoned person’s DCDC number, which is the number after their name in their mailing address. After you’ve added the inmate, you can put money on your phone.

You’ll have to tell your imprisoned friend you added their number in a letter or through someone else who is already talking with them, so they know they can call collect.