Prisoner letterwriting

A.B.O. Comix has partnered with Flying Over Walls since 2017 to help strengthen our communities across prison walls. We are inspired by the work being done to link LGBTQ prisoners with free-world penpals and are excited to assist our incarcerated artists and contributors in forming new friendships.
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This page is adapted from the excellent penpal guidelines over at Black and Pink.
Things to Consider Before Writing:
  • Why do I want to write to someone in prison?
  • What hopes do I have for this friendship?
  • What is my capacity and commitment? 
  • How might I deal with hearing about the prison system and traumatic things that happen on the inside?
  • What assumptions or prejudices do I carry about incarcerated people?
  • What support system do I have in place for myself and for my new penpal?
  • How do I navigate any safety or boundary concerns that may arise?
  • Am I over the age of consent in my state/country to correspond with currently-incarcerated people?
Things to Know About Prisoner Mail:
  • Mail call happens in public spaces in prison. Receiving mail is a reminder to the recipient, guards and other prisoners that people on the outside care and can be a vital harm reduction tool for people who are incarcerated.
  • Mail is read by prison staff before being distributed to its recipients. Be careful about what you write!
  • Most prisons have heavy restrictions on what can be received in the mail. Check the facility's website for more information, but do not include: tape, glue, staples, glitter, construction paper, crayon, Polaroids, or any explicit sexual content/nudity or references to radically political or illegal activity.
  • Be prepared for a delay! The mail system can be slow inside prisons.
​Friendly Suggestions:
  • ​If you are able to, consider using a post office box to send and receive mail.
  • Be transparent about your boundaries, comfort level and how often you can correspond.
  • Photos are universally loved and can do a lot to brighten up the day of a person in prison! Consider sending photos of animals, nature or even a cute selfie if you feel comfortable!
  • You may have easier access to information than someone in prison and being able to research something for your penpal can be a huge help!
Mutual Respect:
  • We do not ask our artists or contributors for anything related to their crime/conviction in order to respect their privacy, and hope you will do the same! Sometimes people in prison will volunteer this information but some may not wish to discuss it. 
  • Please do your best to offer compassion, patience and friendship to your new penpal. We are hoping to build relationships that uplift our community and help us all grow, learn, adapt and thrive. 
  • If you have hesitations or are feeling uncomfortable with your correspondence, reach out to us! We are here for you no matter what!
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