How to Find and Write to an Incarcerated Pen Pal

Writing to an incarcerated person you do not personally know is entirely possible and more common than most people realize. People write to inmates for many reasons including offering support, satisfying curiosity about the criminal justice system, or simply providing human connection to someone who has very little of it.

The most established platforms for finding incarcerated pen pals include Write A Prisoner at writeaprisoner.com and Meet An Inmate at meetaninmate.com. Both maintain directories of inmates who have opted in to receiving letters from the public. You can browse profiles and write to anyone listed.

You can also write directly to any inmate at any facility in the United States as long as you have their name, inmate ID number, and correct mailing address. Inmate information for federal prisoners is publicly available through the Bureau of Prisons locator at bop.gov/inmateloc. State inmates can be found through each state's Department of Corrections inmate search.

A few important things to know before you write.

All incoming mail is opened and read by the facility's mailroom staff before it reaches the inmate. Content that violates facility rules will be rejected and may not be returned to you. Photos are subject to content restrictions that vary by facility, most facilities prohibit nudity or sexually suggestive images entirely.

Some high-security facilities, including ADX Florence, which houses the most dangerous federal inmates in the country, have extremely strict mail restrictions. Mail to certain inmates at maximum security facilities may be rejected without explanation.

InmateAid's letter and photo service can help you send mail to any facility in the United States quickly and conveniently from your phone or computer.