Healthy relationships are vital to human existence. That’s why people form friendships, romantic relationships, and work partnerships, and of course, they have our families. When someone is incarcerated for some time, their ability to maintain healthy relationships can come into question. That’s why there is a prison pen pal network, so a prisoner can exchange correspondence with someone on the outside. If you decide to participate in such a program, here’s what it can be like for you.
Aid In Positive Relationships
The amount of time someone is incarcerated for it depends on their sentencing. The sentence can change based on the feelings of the judge and jury as well as the defendant’s previous record. Take for example assault cases, which can range from three and a half to 15 years depending on whether or not it was first or second-degree assault. What if someone has never been to jail before and the prison life is a completely new experience they don’t know how to navigate?
When you sign up to be a pen pal for someone in prison, you can take part in helping them maintain positive relationships. After all, prisoners are behind bars, and some may even be in solitary confinement. It’s no secret that fights often break out in prisons over a territory, gangs, drugs, etc. As a result, only being exposed to other prisoners in that environment can change somebody and harden them forever. But regular letters, calls, and other correspondence can aid in understanding that positive relationships and people still exist even if they’re outside.
Improve Rehabilitation
As long as someone isn’t serving a life sentence, they’ll eventually get out of prison. At that time, rehabilitation is possible. Unfortunately, many previously incarcerated people end up back in jail as they’re either life criminals or may simply find it hard to break the cycle that brought them to prison in the first place. Having positive connections to keep them emotionally strong can encourage someone in jail to remain positive while inside and seek out more positive influences once out.
Assist With Education
Several prisoners have not finished high school. Many prisons have programs where people can at least get a GED or higher. Schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programs: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP), or the Career-related Programme (CP), but there’s no guarantee the prisoner can participate. Pen pal relationships with prisoners can help encourage their education. You may be able to send them books and other academic material to help them.
Consider Advocation
Unfortunately, the American prison system has its share of problems. It’s no secret that many people have been wrongfully convicted and have often spent decades in jail for crimes they didn’t commit. Thanks to programs that advocate DNA testing, many prisoners have since been set free. Plus, treatment and living conditions inside many prisons have often been the subject of controversy. Sanitation has been a major problem that can lead to illness. There have been prisoners who have complained of clogged toilets and mold. According to Reader’s Digest, flushable wipes are one of the most common causes of clogged toilets and pipes. If your pen pal is dealing with unfair treatment, you can use your voice or connections to try to get some reform or at least help for the person you’re in contact with.
Relationships matter at any point in life. While many criminals should not be in contact with the general public, some people are in jail and need that lifeline to help improve their lives. So if you decide to develop a pen pal relationship with the right person in jail, you may end up influencing both their life and your own.