Adopting FAQ

All we ask is that you write. Please consider this a committment, and do not submit your adoption form until you are certain you are ready. A significant amount of time goes into creating a match, and we value the efforts of our volunteers, who are not compensated for their efforts.

Keep in mind that it can be very disappointing and unsettling for an inmate if correspondence is sparse or ends abruptly, as they have no way to know what the reason is. In many cases you will be their only means of contact with the outside world.

Although not required, you may choose to provide support in additional ways, such as:

• Sending books or magazines
• Talking on the phone
• Sending commissary money to offset the cost of correspondence (stamps, paper and envelopes), or so they can purchase items such as coffee, stationary supplies, and hygiene items (typically only soap, toothpaste, and a limited number of stamps are provided for indigent inmates). Prison food is notoriously meager and unpalatable. Soups, cheese, and peanut butter provide much-needed sustenance and protein that is lacking in their meals. The pandemic has exacerbated this, as many kitchen workers were in isolation or quarantine, resulting in meals similar to this dinner served to Washington state prisoners (grown men!): a few carrot sticks, a small cup of coleslaw, and a cookie.
• Scheduling a visit (some facilities have video visitation available)

Guidelines vary widely across states, counties, and federal institutions (and frequently change) with regard to mail, phone calls, commissary, and visits, and we are here to help you navigate those systems. You will find many organizations and resources here that support inmates with everything from resource guides, books and newsletters, to parole and re-entry. Contact us if you have questions.

Your first letter is an introduction. Let them know that you volunteered through Adopt an Inmate so they know how you got their name. Start with the basics, and tell a little about yourself.

This is a good time to ask about mail rules, so you can be sure to avoid any violations that might cause a letter to be rejected. Until you know the rules, use only white paper and envelopes, and do not use stickers (including address labels) or colored ink. For more inspiration about what to write, look here and here. Here is an informative blog post written by an inmate, about Writing to a Prisoner.

There are a number of reasons a reply from an inmate could be delayed.

1.  Stamps and writing supplies tend to be scarce, especially for indigent inmates, and sharing property is a violation – it is actually against the rules in many states for an inmate to give a stamp or envelope to another inmate. For that reason, many facilities require that inmates write their name and ID# on every single piece of their property, which is why you will often see their name written somewhere on each page.
2. They may have been moved to a different facility. You can use the inmate locator to check, or contact us to help you if you don’t know how.
3. The unit may be on lockdown.
4. They may be temporarily mail-restricted.

Sometimes relationships don’t work out. Do let us know so that we can put the inmate back on our waiting list. We will be happy to find another person for you to write.