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PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE |
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There is little doubt that each and every inmate in a 10' x 6' prison cell would like to have frequent visitors. But, do to prison or jail regulations this is not possible. Even on days and at times when prisoners may have visitors it may be that they are incacrerated in a location that is to distant from their family and friends to make the necessary trip to see them. There is, however, a way that you can visit a prisoner. Prisoners usually receive MAIL five days a week. They can receive other items as well. 1. Letters 2. Paperback books 3. Postal Money Orders 4. Pictures (Poloroid excluded) 5. Post cards The items listed may not be everything a prisoner can receive but these items have been sent sucessfully by supporters. A prisoner can tell you what the specific items and rules are at her/his particular jail or prison. Through our efforts to support Prisoners of Conscience we have learned the importance of this nature of support. Each prisoner will have different needs. Some prisoners have support groups, large familys close by, and financial means to obtain required items. Others have nothing! A prisoner normally cannot receive anything via the mail that he/she can purchase in the prison commissary. This is why you cannot send blank envelopes, stamps, postcards, candy bars and the like. Most of you that are reading this page have already taken part in walks, runs and other protest actions. In doing so you have freely given of yourself the time, energy and expense to perform these actions. While some have taken only a few hours or a few days a goodly number of you have spent weeks and months performing these journeys. Those who we call Prisoners Of Conscience make a much more difficult journey. They spend days, weeks, months and years fulfilling their missions. So why not take a few minutes of your time, and a few cents, (post cards are 25 cents, stamps 37cents) out of your pocket and perform yet another action, just like a walk or run, and let the Prisoners Of Conscience know that they are not alone, that they are supported and that you appreciate their courageous and noble witness. The are no guarantees that you will receive a letter back from your adoptee. As a matter of fact if you are expecting something materialistic in return you may well be disapointed. It is not always possible for your adoptee to send you a letter back. He or she may have been moved, may be "in the hole", etc. They may not have the money. What seems to work best is to send a small Postal Money Order, say $2.00, to your adoptee in the first letter. Be sure to make it out to the person you are trying to support. This would at least give the prisoner enought money to buy a stamp and an envelope which they are NOT usually allowed to receive. Remember also that the 2 or 3 bucks you send may be enough to buy a candy bar or a bar of soap, etc. If you get a reply you can go from there with other things, if not, at least you tried. If your correspondence comes back RTS, Return To Sender, your prisoner is gone and you might want to try another. |